The iconic book has left an imprint on the African country; January 2019
The small West African country of Gambia enjoys abundant wildlife throughout its diverse ecosystems, beaches along a narrow bit of Atlantic coastline, and a richly diverse culture. Known as “the smiling coast of Africa,” Gambia has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence.
For many people, the Gambia is most well-known from the book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Alex Haley’s sweeping tale of Kunta Kinte and his descendants. The fictional Kinte was apparently based on a real 18th century man living in the Gambia who was captured and sold into slavery in the U.S. state of Virginia. The book follows Kinte’s family through several generations.
Today, the impact of the best-selling book (it has sold more than six million copies and earned Haley a Pulitzer) is still felt in the Gambia, and remains a major draw for people interested in exploring the tragic, but important, history of the country.
Read the full story at https://www.gadventures.com/blog/alex-haley-roots-gambia-travel/
Shelley Seale Editorial 