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Table of Contents
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Kunta Kinte Meaning in English/KuteKente Meaning/Meaning of Kunta Kinte/What Does Kunta Kinte Mean?/Cunta Canta Meaning
Kunta Kinte is a fictional African slave taken to 18th-century America in the novel and adapted TV series Roots.
Kunta Kinte Meaning in Slang
Based on the character and his experience, Kunta Kinte is also used as a derogatory name for an African person who has recently immigrated to a new place.
Kunta Kinte Meme
Kunta Kinte is also a meme used to variously comment on African-American culture.
READ ALSO: Roots Showing in Africa
What Does the Name Kunta Kinte Mean?
Kunta Kinte is a Mandinka/Malinke name from The Gambia.
In Mandinka culture, the name Kunta Kinte carries significance. “Kunta” is a common Mandinka name, and “Kinte” is believed to be derived from the Mandinka word “Kintango,” which refers to a strong-willed person.
So, Kunta Kinte’s name can be interpreted as symbolizing strength and resilience, which reflects his character’s determination to maintain his identity and resist the dehumanizing effects of slavery.
READ ALSO: Roots 1977 Trailer & More
King Kunta Meaning
Kendrick Lamar’s song “King Kunta” uses the historical context of Kunta Kinte to draw parallels between the historical struggles of African Americans and contemporary issues. The song discusses themes of empowerment, resistance, and the complexities of achieving success within a system that has historically oppressed Black people. Lamar positions himself as a modern-day “King Kunta,” asserting his power and influence in the music industry while acknowledging the legacy of resistance that he is a part of.
Cultural Impact
“King Kunta” and the Roots narrative both have significant cultural impacts. Roots helped to bring the horrors and personal stories of slavery to a broad audience, fostering a deeper understanding of African American history.
Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta” continues this legacy by addressing current social and political issues, bridging past and present struggles, and celebrating Black excellence and resilience.
How Did Kunta Kinte Die in Real Life?
Kunta Kinte is a fictional representation of a real ancestor of Haley. The character Kunta Kinte is based on a man named Kunta Kinte who was born in the Gambia in 1750 and was captured and sold into slavery in America.
In reality, there is limited historical information about the actual life and death of Kunta Kinte. The novel “Roots” and its adaptations primarily provide a dramatized account of his life.
Therefore, while the book details Kunta Kinte’s struggles and experiences, including his attempts to retain his African heritage and resist enslavement, specific details about his death are not documented historically. In the story, Kunta Kinte dies peacefully in his sleep, having lived a long life as a slave on a plantation.
King Kunta History
The story of “King Kunta” is primarily known through the song by Kendrick Lamar from his critically acclaimed 2015 album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
The song references both the fictional figure Kunta Kinte and the modern-day struggles and triumphs of African Americans.
Kunta Kinte Movie
Does the name Kunta Kinte mean anything to you?
How about this scene: “Your name is Toby. I want to hear you say it!….What’s your name? Kunta…Kunta Kinte.”, as a whip comes down hard on a young black man’s back?
If you are around my age or older, you’ll probably easily recall this poignant scene from the 1977 Roots miniseries (no, I was not yet born in 1977 but I grew up in Africa so we got American movies and TV shows 10 years late).
As one of my favorite bloggers reminded me recently in a post about Beyoncé’s album Lemonade, there’s a whole generation of young adults for whom this reference will mean nothing.
For those of us who have vivid memories of Roots, as well as for those of you who are too young to remember, I think we are all in for a treat this June as Roots comes back to television in a new Roots History channel remake.
Read on to find out more, but first take a look at the scene I was talking about.
(To be honest, the dialogue I recall for this scene is…
– Je m’appelle Kunta Kinte.
– Tobey! Tu t’appelles Tobey !
– Non ! Kunta…Kinte !
– Tu t’appelles Tobey !
– Kunta…Kinte.
– Fouettez-le!
….because I grew up in Abidjan where television is in French, so the dialogue and accents in this video sound so strange to me. 😆 Anyways, back to my main point…)
Roots History Channel (Remake of Roots): What Channel Is Roots On?
Making its debut on the HISTORY® Channel (DStv 186 if you are watching from Africa) is the highly-anticipated television event Roots, the four-part, eight-hour series developed by the HISTORY® channel and produced by A+E Studios.
Based on the best-selling novel by Alex Haley, Roots recounts the journey of one family’s will to survive, endure, and ultimately carry on their legacy despite enormous hardship and inhumanity.
“Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America,” said LeVar Burton, co-executive producer and the actor who played the lead role of Kunta Kinte in the original 1977 Roots miniseries. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this new retelling and start the dialogue again, at a time when it is needed more than ever.”