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[Pakira]

Kneeling in chains, the dramatic apology from slave trader descendant




Four centuries ago, his forefather achieved notoriety as England's first slave trader.



Thousands of kidnapped men, women and children were sold like cattle - if they survived being packed onto ships so tightly that they could not lie down.

Now Andrew Hawkins has made a dramatic gesture to atone for his ancestor's actions - kneeling in chains in front of thousands of Africans to apologise on behalf of his family.


The 37-year-old youth theatre worker is a descendant of Sir John Hawkins, an Elizabethan sea captain who began centuries of British involvement in the slave trade.

He travelled from his home in Cornwall to The Gambia in West Africa to try to make amends in front of the country's vice-president, Isatou Njie Saidy, and 25,000 of her compatriots.



The father-of-two joined a group of Europeans who took part in a procession while bound in chains before kneeling and offering their apology.

"I apologised on behalf of my family," he said yesterday. "I apologised for the adults and children taken.



"Then there was a long pause and we really didn't know what to expect - it was very nerve-wracking.

"They could have said 'We don't accept your apology, go away', and we were ready for that - it would have been understandable.

"But the vice-president came forward and accepted the apology very graciously. She offered her forgiveness and then came forward and took the chains off. That was entirely impromptu and very moving."



The trip earlier this month was the latest in a series of similar gestures organised by a group called The Lifeline Expedition aimed at achieving reconciliation between Europeans and Africans.

"I recognise that it's a small, simple act to say sorry - but it was a handful of people who started the slave trade and the ripples of their actions caused evil throughout the continent of Africa," said Mr Hawkins, who lives in Liskeard.

'One of the most memorable things I've ever done'



"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was one of the most memorable things I've ever done.

"It was a learning experience. You see just how deep the wounds left by the slave trade are.

"As someone with family links to the slave traders, it was a very difficult thing to see the consequences of their actions.



"Hopefully a handful of people can now be the beginning of something good."

While there they also visited the village of Juffureh where Kunta Kinte, the central character in Alex Haley's novel Roots, is said to have been born.

"We went there to ask forgiveness from the village elders," said Mr Hawkins.

"At first they were reluctant to give it, but as we shared our experience of the tour and how it had affected us, they accepted our apology.

"I think they wanted to see an emotional connection from us, and to see that we had gone there in humility."

Expedition leader David Potts said: "We do not think there has been a really sincere apology from Europeans to Africa and we want to do our part in trying to redress that.

"The trip to Gambia was an amazing experience, and one of the highlights of the expedition. Andrew made a huge contribution and it was great to have him there."

Next year the group is planning to do a walk between London, Liverpool, Bristol and Plymouth to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade.

Tony Blair has refused to say sorry for slavery in the past, largely because it could trigger demands for payouts from African countries,but pressure is expected to mount as the anniversary approaches.



Mr Hawkins said:"I don't think we learn enough about our participation in the slave trade in this country and the consequences that has had in Africa.

"We need to face up to that, and next year might be a good time to do that."



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