Seun’s Talking Drum British and West African - 2. Fostered
British-Nigerian journalist Seun Matiluko unpacks the term “farming” used to describe a period between the 1950s and 1990s when tens of thousands of West African children were privately fostered in the UK.
Can you authentically be both British and West Africans when you’re brought up by non-West Africans?
In this episode, Seun speaks with three adults who were “farmed” as children: former Olympian Kriss Akabusi, British Blacklist – founder Akua Gyamfi, and musician Ric Flo alongside his white foster parent Denise. Some details in stories have been changed to protect individual's identities.
Corrections: Akua Gyamfi was first fostered between the ages 0-4 in Portsmouth. Her surname is pronounced "JAM-FI."
Seun also speaks with a West African parent who fostered their child – Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka.
Finally, Seun speaks with an academic expert, Professor Jordanna Bailkin from the University of Washington.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this episode, please contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of child abuse, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Producer and Presenter: Seun Matiluko.
Supervising Producer: Jessie Bland.
Researcher: Richard Ampeh.
Voice actors: Ozioma Ihesiene, Aishat Adebisi and Eniola Promise.
Theme music: Richard Olatunde Baker.
Sound design: Kalua.
Artwork: Tinuke Fagborun.
A Three Arrows Media production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.
Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer.
With special thanks to Nursery World who will celebrate their hundredth anniversary in 2025.
Published on Wednesday, 21st February 2024.
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