A southern adventure!
Sir Michael Palin finishes his journey with some fascinating discoveries…
Tuesday, 9pm, Channel 5 Factual
AMICHAEL PALIN IN NIGERIA
s Sir Michael Palin starts the final leg of his journey around Nigeria in West Africa, he’s excited to visit historic Benin City in Edo State.
But he and his crew soon grow concerned for their safety when they find themselves in gridlocked traffic in an area that is known for bandit attacks and they are forced to take a dangerous detour.
‘There’s a sense of tension in the air,’ he admits. ‘We’re in really serious trouble now.’
Thankfully, Michael makes it to Benin City, where he learns about the 1897 Raid on Benin, when British forces attacked and burnt down the city.
Stolen heritage
He also encounters an angry local who is keen to tell him how the British stole thousands of ancient bronze castings from the city, which its residents are now demanding to be returned from The British Museum.
‘I felt ambushed, but clearly there are very strong feelings,’ he says. ‘There’s a complex yet enduring relationship between the two countries.’
Land of contrasts
Michael takes a boat ride on the beautiful River Ethiope, then travels to the oil-producing region of Port Harcourt, where he discovers how the industry is polluting the country’s local river systems and destroying the rural way of life.
Then, on his last night, he joins a mass worship at a church that accommodates up to a million people.
‘There’s such energy, and in a sense, that’s Nigeria in a nutshell,’ says Michael. ‘Lots of people and terrific energy.
‘This country is only going to get more important and more influential, and I feel privileged to have been able to visit it.’