Humans' have had a long and complex relationship with elephants. The elephant's huge size has allowed us to load it with attributes like supernatural strength, great wisdom, phenomenal memory. And we've always wanted to be close to it, to harness the power, to use it, to destroy it.

Brett Westwood tracks our cultural relationship with the elephant, from battlefield to big top, via Swahili proverbs, artworks on the streets of Sheffield,. Jumbo and the festivities for Lord Ganesha at the Hounslow Ganeshotsav Mandal in West London.

First broadcast in a longer form on 27th September 2016
Original Producer [ 2016] : Melvin Rickarby
Archive Producer [2024] : Andrew Dawes Show less