This is NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Kia Miakhanates. Sankofa is a word that comes from the

Akhan people of Ghana. It means to go back and fetch it. And as a concept in philosophy,

emphasizes the importance of knowing the past to better understand the present.

Ghana was just one of the many nations once ruled under the British Empire, a history that is now

so far in the rearview mirror, sometimes it feels easier to forget.

Satnam Sangeras' new book, Empire Land, is a quest to remember. His book details the breadth of

atrocities from the British Empire's rule and the reverberations of imperialism that can still

be felt in modern-day Britain. Here he is with NPR Scott Simon, chatting about why the story

of the British Empire is relevant to Americans too.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors on our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people helping you understand why distant events matter

here at home. Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Prime Minister of Britain, Rishi Sunak, was born in Southampton to Hindu parents of Indian

Punjabi descent who were born in Southeast Africa

and immigrated to Britain. A lot of history, Indian, British, African, Empire is packed into that

one sentence. Author and journalist Sutnam Sungara believes that Britain and the rest of the

world should learn more of it. His new book, Empire Land,

has been acclaimed at Britain and just published in the United States. Sott Numsungara joins us

now from London. Thank you so much for being with this. Hello, Scott. You've got an opening

chapter added for and addressing U.S. readers, which says, if I might paraphrase,

just because you guys rebelled against the British Empire in 1776,

...