Op zoek naar de Roots

The ironic documentary BACK TO THE ROOTS discusses the ‘ethnotourism’ by the African-American community. In the tourist season they fly to Senegal in large numbers, back at last in their country of origin, Africans among the Africans. For the Senegalese this stream of visitors guarantees a good income. A folkloristic dance company, welcoming the African-Americans at the airport, is greeted by a shower of dollars. Next, the black tourists take the bus through the arid scenery to halt at remote villages and at Kunta Kinte‘s birthplace, the leading character from the bestseller . His descendants gratefully accept the banknotes and baseball stickers. Most Africans are both touched and delighted. They have looked forward to this trip all their lives. The Senegalese, in their turn, would just as soon take the first plane to the United States.