The Book of Negroes is a Canadian/South African miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Hill which in turn derives its origins from the historical document Book of Negroes, and tells the story of a woman forcefully brought to South Carolina from West Africa at the time of the American Revolution.
Abducted from her village in West Africa, eleven-year-old Aminata Diallo is forced into a slave coffle and must endure a horrific ocean crossing.
She is brought to a South Carolina plantation where she makes herself useful by using midwifery skills learned at her mother's side, all the while keeping the attentions of her jealous slave master, Robinson Appleby, at bay.
Soon after Aminata reencounters Chekura, a fellow slave from West Africa, they are married in a clandestine ceremony. When their first baby is brutally abducted and sold by Appleby she vows to return one day to her homeland.
The Book of Negroes is an official Canada-South Africa co-production, executive produced by Damon D'Oliveira (What We Have, Lie With Me) and Clement Virgo from Conquering Lion Pictures; Lance Samuels (Inescapable, Bang Bang Club) from Out of Africa Entertainment; Bill Niven (Marion Bridge) of Idlewild Films; and eOne's Carrie Stein (Coco Chanel, Burn Up, Diamonds) and Margaret O'Brien (Bitten, Rookie Blue).
Other executive producers include Daniel Iron (Cairo Time, Away From Her) and Michael Levine (The Republic of Doyle). The series is produced in association with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Black Entertainment Television.
Starring
Aunjanue Ellis
as
Aminata Diallo
Ben Chaplin
as
Cpt. John Clarkson
Greg Bryk
as
Robertson Appleby
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon
as
Young Aminata
Siya Xaba
as
Young Chekura
Sandra Caldwell
as
Georgia
Antonio David Lyons
as
Happy Jack
Lyriq Bent
as
Chekura Tiano
Allan Hawco
as
Solomon Lindo
Amy Louise Wilson
as
Rosa Lindo
Cara Ricketts
as
Bertilda
Dwain Murphy
as
Claiborne
and Cuba Gooding Jr.
as
Sam Fraunces
Rick Roberts
as
General Washington
Joel Thomas Hynes
as
Matthew Witherspoon
Stephan James
as
Cummings Shakspear
Meredith MacNeill
as
Judith Palmer
and Louis Gossett Jr.
as
Daddy Moses