SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE


The power of Kunta Kinte lives on after Roots

Written by TVSA Team from the blog History on 07 Jul 2016
Favourite this post



History channel's phenomenal, shocking, heart-breaking and unforgettable Roots ended on Wednesday night (6 July) and what remains is the spirit of Kunta Kinte.


Kunta's had such a dramatic impact on so many people that there are those who celebrate him annually at a Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival. It's been happening for 27 years in Annapolis, Maryland and it's a celebration of African culture inspired by Kunta and Roots.

It happens in Maryland because Maryland was America's first national capital and it attracts thousands of visitors who gather to celebrate the cultural heritage of people of African descent.


The official website describes the festival as a blast and from the sounds of it, it is. The festival grounds are transformed into an African market with arts and crafts and performers entertain with live music, spoken poetry etc. People can stay over so you can lose yourself and forget about everything else.


Kunta's also had an intense impact on actor and producer LeVar Burton, who played him in the original mini-series in 1977.

LeVar went on to play Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge on Star Trek so Kunta catapulted his rise to stardom and ultimately inspired the Roots remake. LeVar co-produced the new series and has this to say about the effect that Kunta's had on him...

LeVar: Roots was my first job. In fact, it was my first professional audition. I was 19, and it changed my life. It gave me the life that I enjoy now. Coming back to this project again, 40 years later, is really extraordinary.

I used to think that life was very much a linear journey, but this experience has really shown me that it’s really circular in nature.  I’ve come back to this same place, with this same project, but with a whole new cast of characters, both in front of and behind the camera.

Profound and oh-so-cool. What impact has Kunta had on you?
 

Actors in this post: LeVar Burton

Shows in this post: Roots

Channels in this post: History Africa



Comments


Only TVSA members can reply to this thread. Click here to login or register.






LATEST ARTICLES

New on TV today: Thursday 18 September

Thriller series Black Rabbit drops on Netflix as And Just Like That... returns to M-Net.


Kelders van Geheime: Veronique vs Hermien - only one can be victorious

Hermien plays her game with falcon-eyed precision - and for Veronique, it leads to a humiliation she never saw coming.


Impak! Teasers - October 2025

Eyes are out for the mole, plans are in motion to get the video and Veli has something up his sleeve.


New on TV today: Wednesday 17 September 2025

Top Guns: The Next Generation begins on Nat Geo and musical comedy Electric Bloom drops on Disney+.


Genesis character portrait: Vuyo Biyela as Lizwi Phakathi

Pssst... have you heard? This new guy from the overseas has a ring in his pocket.


Bloedspoor Teasers - October 2025

There's a body in a car and Ilgaz is sure that Cinar is hiding something.


New on TV today: Tuesday 16 September 2025

The Last Rhinos: A New Hope airs on Disney+ and BBC Earth follows cutting-edge surgeons in a new series.


2025 Emmy Awards: Biggest snub, biggest win, biggest eyeroll

We love it when a plan comes together. A wrap of the wins in key categories and our special awards.


Scandal! Teasers - October 2025

Ephraim's woes at the butchery continue when a helper is put under pressure to sabotage him.


New on TV today: Monday 15 September 2025

The 2025 Emmy Awards air live and repeated on M-Net and Welcome to Plathville returns to TLC.

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



,

LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS


,

LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS




×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.