Dolly Parton | Unproblematic White Queen | Feat. Kelechi Okafor |2
Dolly Parton | Unproblematic White Queen | Feat. Kelechi Okafor |2  
Podcast: Legacy
Published On: Tue Sep 29 2026
Description: What were the taxi drivers of 1990s Accra playing on repeat?How does a woman who swore she was "not a bit political" write a hit about being used up and spat out by the system?And, what does it take for the most unmistakably white icon in American country music to become the unproblematic queen of a Nigerian girl growing up in Peckham?Afua Hirsch hands the Dolly Parton question to her friend Kelechi Okafor — author, podcaster, voice artist and pole studio owner — and Peter Frankopan discovers he is the last to know that West Africa loves country music.Part two of two. Missionaries, a banjo with West African roots and a grandfather in cowboy boots in Lagos; the royalties, the military and the art of choosing your hypocrisies; and the day Dolly Parton's Imagination Library asked for Kelechi's own picture book, then came back for it a second year. Underneath it all, the question part one left hanging: did everyone give Dolly a pass that Beyoncé never gets?Join Legacy Plus for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more.legacy.supportingcast.fm[0:00] The tribute that travelled furthest didn't come from Nashville[2:40] Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and a cassette player in the headboard[4:20] Accra taxis, the banjo, and a secret hundreds of millions already knew[8:41] Unpicking "unproblematic white queen", and choosing what you're a hypocrite for[11:37] The Imagination Library comes calling for Kelechi's picture book[14:35] Dumb Blonde as a business plan, all the way to the bank[18:09] Church ladies, queer fans, and the pass Beyoncé never gets[23:24] Peckham, Yoruba, and why a songwriter chose booksStay connected with Legacy:Instagram: @originallegacypodcastTikTok: @legacy_productionsExplore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas:Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.comJoin Legacy+ for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more.legacy.supportingcast.fmStay connected with Legacy:Instagram: @originallegacypodcastTikTok: @legacy_productionsExplore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas: Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.