Empire

I have recently read two books, both of which have contributed a great deal to my thinking around empire and the contemporary challenges posed by the UK's colonial past. I usually approach any such thinking from a Biblical and/or theological perspective, but these two have offered another view which helps to consider the issues. One is Sathnam Sanghera's 'Empireland' and the other is 'Africa Is Not A Country' by Dipo Faloyin. The latter is sub-titled 'Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa' and is a telling reminder of the wonderful diversity of that immense continent, but also of the damage done in times past when so many of its 'treasures' ewere 'taken' and brought to other places. In 'Empireland' Sanghera challenges us to look our history in the eye and recognise the impact that we havr had, and what that has done to others. Both offer lots to think about.