I loved this extraordinary, eye-opening travelogue with Palin at his decent, thoughtful and affable best. He is visibly horrified and guilt-stricken by what he learns about British involvement in the country, as one interviewee says, the worst thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. The interview with one of the kidnapped schoolchildren who managed to escape quickly moved me to tears.
I also learnt about the Royal African Company whose vile, terrifying coat of arms is at the head of this post. Established in 1660 by the royal house of Stuart, and City of London merchants, its products are simply listed on Wikipedia as “Gold, silver, ivory, humans”. I have been to one of the forts in Elmina, Ghana, one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. I could not have visited another, seen another Door of No Return. These photographs say more than words ever could.
Leave a Reply