Jonathan Dimbleby at Kofi Ansah’s latest Fashion Collection in Ghana...

"After four decades of reporting from the continent, Jonathan Dimbleby returns to Africa on a 7,000-mile journey to discover how it is changing.

He starts his African journey in the capital of Mali, Bamako, the fastest-growing African city. Following the course of the Niger river, Dimbleby finds not a continent of beggars but of industrious people, some of whom go to extraordinary lengths to make a living, free-diving 20 feet to excavate building sand.

Travelling north-east, he sees how tradition is preserved in an area where a sophisticated urban society has thrived for 1,600 years. Jonathan gets his hands dirty as the apprentice of a 74-year-old mud mason in Djenne, a town built entirely of mud.

In Ghana, one of Africa's freest and most stable countries, Jonathan sees a spectacular festival before playing a game of golf with the King of the Ashanti, who recalls his time working for Brent council. Dimbleby attends the King's court to see what lessons the UK can draw from traditional African structures that promote harmony and reconciliation.

Jonathan discovers that the African brain drain is turning into a brain gain as economic opportunity and patriotism draw people home. Football unites Ghana like nothing else, superseding political and tribal divisions. There is a rich seam of young football talent on the continent in the year that the World Cup is hosted by an African nation for the first time.

In Lagos, Nigeria's business capital, Jonathan Dimbleby sees a different take on a city that is often depicted as a hotbed of violence, crime and corruption. He is taken on a private jet by Africa's richest man, then savours the creative talents of two of African music's rising stars who are helping to cement Lagos's place as the continent's cultural hub.[credit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00snc3c]

***I managed to catch the Ghana segment of ‘An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby’ last Sunday and it was wonderful. As stated above –this first episode presented the Ashanti King at play, Ghana’s love of football and the exodus of talented Ghanaians going back home to set up businesses. But if you didn’t catch it –don’t despair; it will be repeated on Thursday, 00:20 on BBC Two (or can be watch at anytime within the next 19 days via BBC iplayer at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00snc3c/An_African_Journey_with_Jonathan_Dimbleby_Episode_1/)

*The above film clip is a gem and shows Jonathan Dimbleby at Kofi Ansah’s latest Collection [at Canoe 53 Sails Fashion Fiesta in Ghana