Richard Reddie, spokesperson for Set all Free wrote, “I had no prior knowledge that my name would be used in a way that appeared to endorse this film… I haven't seen this film, and therefore in no position to advance any opinions on its historical accuracy or cinematic value”.
Although Set all Free was established by Churches Together in England to commemorate the 2007 bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, Reddie states he is “keen that we hear the whole story about what happened over 200 years ago. This includes the African dimension to ending slavery and embraces the heroes and sheroes such as Nanny, Cudjoe, Accompong, Bussa, Quamina etc.”
The film ‘Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story’, which is produced by Walden Media (Samuel Goldwyn Films, Roadside Attractions and Bristol Bay Productions) features the Senegalese composer and actor Youssou N’Dour in the part of Olaudah Equiano and tells the tale of how Wilberforce championed the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and, according to the press release, “is the true story of a reluctant leader called to do the impossible and the loyal friends who risked everything to join him”.
There is great discontent in the African British community with this intended portrayal. Many believe the film will fail to reveal that Wilberforce was totally opposed to women being involved in his Christian campaign of abolition. One of his major objections was that female activists such as Anne Knight, Elizabeth Heyrick and Sarah Wedgwood were in favour of the immediate abolition of slavery, whereas he believed his movement should only concentrate on bringing an end to the trafficking of enslaved Africans with the abolition of enslavement made a gradual process leading to colonisation. As a reflection of his true motivations, he later described his greatest achievement as the introduction of Christian missionaries to India and not the anti-slavery movement he is most commonly associated with.
At the launch of the African-led initiative, Truth 2007 in Bristol, a national campaign by community organisations to challenge and correct the propaganda espoused by organisations participating in state sponsored Wilberforce 2007 projects, Toyin Agbetu from Ligali said that “this rewriting of British history which discounts the deeply racist and sexist attitudes of Wilberforce not only conveniently omits the fact that Wilberforce was against women having the right to vote in parliamentary elections, but also against the Haitian Revolution… a specific fact I was reminded of by Dr Hakim Adi, a renown reader in African History who at a recent lecture spoke of Wilberforce’s support for the British invasion of St Dominguez after African freedom fighters had emancipated themselves from enslavement”.
Walden Media say that they hope the film will unite leaders in a ‘cultural moment’. Speaking of Wilberforce, they announced "[h]is life was also an astounding spiritual and moral quest, and he is an inspiration to millions to this day". The visual effects company MPC also reveal that the film’s director, Michael Apted, wanted to convey “the might and majesty of the British Commercial Fleet of the late 18th century” and directed them to “illustrate Wilberforce’s nightmares about the horrors of slavery”.
The film’s press release cites Set All Free’s ‘remember, reflect and respond’ agenda as a means of not only “selling tickets, as important as that is; ... [but] also seeding a transformation of hearts and minds”.
Earlier this year the chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced that a £2 coin will be issued next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. Nonetheless Reddie, who recognises the “depth of feeling among many in the African community about slavery” has strong reservations and responds; “I have no desire to see next year become a 'Wilberfest' where we venerate the work of one man and then focus on modern slavery - as some are doing.”
The London premiere of ‘Amazing Grace’ will be taking place on 13 November 2006 at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). |
Wilberforce was opposed to female activists… who were in favour of the immediate abolition of slavery. He believed in only ending the trafficking of enslaved Africans with the abolition of enslavement made a gradual process leading to colonisation.
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