It’s not a bad show. But listening to the Ghengis Khan series after the Thatcher one was simply absurd. No matter one’s thoughts in Thatcher is peculiar to describe her in a far more negative subjective way than someone who raped sacked and murdered his way across a huge swathe of the world.

After using Jimi Hendrix’s idea as possibly the only recognisable music in the podcast, the defining low point was Peter Frankopan calling the chords and counting in to the iconic song, Give Peace a Chance, leading to…..what exactly?? Just a massive anti climax. I understand the licensing issues, but either be upfront and honest about this or just leave it alone. I was more forgiving with the Nina podcast, with the Amazon Music Playlist shout, but I’ve just about given up now. Shame, because I love what you both say, particularly Afua.

Verbose, preachy, crusader Afua always manages to ruin what is otherwise a good concept. Droning on in her grandiloquent manner, everything has to return to her agenda whether it be black rights, women’s rights or whatever she feels it necessary to ruin the show with. I won’t be listening to any more.

Having listened to the first episode about the British colonialist Cecil Rhodes, I found myself hooked and immediately listened to the next three episodes. However, I felt my interest begin to wane as I progressed through the series, mainly due to the lack of detail and debate when approaching the life of one of Britain’s most controversial and disturbing figures in its recent history. I initially wanted to listen to this series because it wanted to shine a light on the protests surrounding the Rhodes statue displayed on an inlet on the building of Oriel College, Oxford. Personally I support the decision to remove the statue but I drew issues to the content surrounding Rhodes’ legacy - the very thing this podcast wants to explore. Some of the connections made between Rhodes, a man operating at his height in the late 19th century, and actions and events of the middle to late 20th century seemed somewhat difficult to correlate. Perhaps too much blame was placed at the door of Rhodes for such human atrocities as Apartheid and the rise of the brutal dictator Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. In the final episode these topics were addressed in a very simplified capacity which did not do adequate justice to the recent history of Souther Africa. For example, it was alluded to that Rhodes was responsible for paving the way for Apartheid segregation in South Africa. I do not refute this point. I believe he did pave the way, but was not the direct cause. I believe that the role and beliefs of the Afrikaans government of a united South Africa should have been explored more thoroughly as a legacy issue. Furthermore, I took greater issue with the point made that Rhodes was ultimately responsible for the rise and actions of Robert Mugabe as Rhodes “normalised” dictatorial behaviour and murder. Having studied Zimbabwe under Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, of course a point can be made as is ultimately valid that Rhodes inspired people like the white supremacist Ian Smith, Rhodes cannot be held responsible for Mugabe. The way Mugabe was discussed left a lot to be desired. Rhodes’ involvement with the tribes of Matabele land were mentioned and debated in a lengthy discussion, particularly Rhodes’ negotiations with tribal leaders and land ownership. However, there was a complete failure to mention that Mugabe used his infamous and evil Fifth Brigade (Mugabe’s private army) which massacred the people of Matabele land in order to decrease the power base of Mugabe’s political opponent, Joshua Nkomo, and to also wipe out a different ethnic group, one that had had years of hostility with Mugabe’s own racial group - the Shona people. This particular point highlights how Rhodes cannot be blamed for everything that has happened in Southern Africa, although he was a significant in the shaping of the region. I just wish they could have focused on the points I have made in order to shape a more balanced and well rounded legacy Rhodes has left on the region of Southern Africa. I am not a Rhodes apologist! He is no hero of mine. I want his statue to fall. But I also despise people like Mugabe and Smith and the proponents of Apartheid. I want history to reflect every angle, left and ring, right and wrong. This is how we learn and how we do not forget the lessons for the past so we don’t repeat them in the future.