Finding roots: pop culture pilgrimage and the affective geographies of Kunta Kinteh Island.

This study reveals how the transmedia narrative of Roots: The Saga of an American Family has intertwined with Kunta Kinteh Island, a dark tourism site in Gambia marked by the suffering of millions enslaved people. Using a non-representational approach to place, it explores the emotional and cultural significance of the island as both a physical space and a 'factional' heritage site. The research combines an analysis of Roots' narrative with firsthand observations of the site's tourismification, offering insights into the complex interplay between pop culture, memory, and dark tourism.

Wright, K. (2020). Finding roots: pop culture pilgrimage and the affective geographies of Kunta Kinteh Island. Dark Tourism and Pilgrimage, 185–196. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781789241877.0185