Mandinka were horse warriors-we didn't know that in the 70s. Studying West Africa, and specifically Gambia. The novel and the miniseries many more people were interested in That information is due to the success of When Alex Haley did the original research, we didn't know Juffure wasĪ major center of commerce. Kamau Bell for Mother Jones, Burton said: Burton, who has a producer credit on the remake, has said that in the past 40 years much more information about Kinte’s people-the West African-based Mandinka-has come to light. The story of Kunta Kinte was originally inspired by Alex Haley’s own research into his family’s history. Thanks to some additions to the new version, including a richer backstory for Kinte, Kirby is able to make an even deeper impression on the audience than original star LeVar Barton could. The most recognizable face in the Africa section of the mini-series is Derek Luke ( Empire, Antwone Fisher), and as electric as Luke is as Kunta Kinte’s scarred uncle Silla, this is Kirby’s show. Once Kunta Kinte arrives in America, familiar faces like Forest Whitaker, Matthew Goode, James Purefoy, Anika Noni Rose, Anna Paquin and more populate the cast. The 26-year-old actor from London is far from the most famous name in the cast. Roots, particularly in its first hour but throughout the eight-hour series, is built on a dazzling, star-making turn from Malachi Kirby, and his performance should not be missed. Kunta spends the first hour of the series in Africa before his abduction, auction, and subjugation. But the most immediately significant change is that the first installment delves deeper into Kunta Kinte’s, well, roots. The story still tells the sprawling multi-generational tale of Kunta Kinte ( Malachi Kirby) and his descendants in the slave culture of early America.
ROOTS CAST 2016 UPDATE
Much has already been written about how Roots-the 1976 Alex Haley novel and 1977 mini-series-has received a considerable update for the new 2016 version, which debuted the first of four installments Monday night on A&E, Lifetime, and The History Channel.