Words In Progress this week explored the #etymology of the word ‘disconnect’ by looking at my life story. A story that includes a dictator, migration and an absence. Hit the first link in @__wordsinprogress__’s bio ⬆️ to read on. #wordsinprogress #writing #words #words #englishlanguage #etymology #wordoftheday #english #words #word #language #vocabulary #etymologygram #dictionary #learnenglish #definition #wordgram #wordfortheday #latin #obscurewords #unknownwords #linguistics #englishvocabulary #newwords #newword #learning #indigenous #englishlanguage #ugandanasians #idiamin #disconnect
A colourful sculpture celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ugandan Indians settling in Leicester was installed at Belgrave Roundabout in the summer of 2023. Over 27,000 Indians were expelled from Uganda in 1972; the majority of whom were Hindu. Thousands found refuge in Leicester, shaping the local community and contributing to British public life and the Hindu community in the UK. Alongside Indian Hindus, non-Hindus such as Sikhs, Muslims and others were forced to flee. Created by artist Anuradha Patel, the 15-foot tall sculpture made of galvanised steel symbolically represents the diverse communities impacted by the expulsion. Anuradha, who herself was one of the Ugandan refugees, emphasised the importance of preserving the stories of these families. Costing £200,000, the project aims to encourage dialogue and storytelling, fostering a connection between generations. Photo credits: Leicester City Council #hindu #hinduism #hindudharma #britishhindu #britishhindus #sanatandharma #uganda #britishindians #ugandanasians #refugee #anuradhapatel #gujarati #britishasian Should @britishhindus post more about Hindu artists?
This is tomorrow. We continue to share our story with others who have migrant histories. @chilternoam @sejsac @ @ugandanasians #refugeeswelcome #refugeesarecourageous #ugandanasians #amersham #chilterns
Ugandan Asians invited to ‘invest in their motherland’ Read more about the story on our website, click the link in our bio. #UgandanAsians #InvestmentOpportunity #MotherlandInvestment
“Contrasts and Conflicts” in the March 28 1961 Africa themed issue of Look Magazine. Arguably more interesting than this juxtaposition of C words, who might the intellectual pictured in front of the National Theatre be? What could be the stories of the women and man, here shown to represent the “hundreds of thousands of Asians”? Magazine in collection #historyinprogressuganda #hipuganda #nationaltheatre #intellectual #ugandanasians #lookmagazine #1961
You are welcome to join us for an Artist Talk and Reception on Thursday January 11th, 2024. Doors open at 7:00pm at the Surrey Art Gallery. Burnaby-based artist Taslim Samji will talk about her journey in becoming a curator and the process of curating the Kampala to Canada exhibition. For the second portion of the presentation, Dr. Galib Bhayani, artist Mehb Rahemtulla, and Surrey Art Gallery Associate Curator Sameena Siddiqui will join Taslim Samji for a panel discussion that promises to be insightful. Please extend this invite to your family and friends. Presented by the Surrey Art Gallery Association Best wishes for 2024! See you there every one ♥️😍 #KampalatoCanada #UgandanAsians #canadianimmigration Burnaby NOW
We are delighted to be showcasing this wonderful knitted tapestry in our Exhibition Room. The tapestry is on loan from @pragnahay and tells the story of the expelled Ugandan Asians. You can see this and other exhibits, free of charge, every Wednesday to Sunday #exhibition #art #textileart #history #localhistory #ugandanasians #greenham #newbury #thatcham #westberks #daysout #freevents
A year ago we hosted our amazing event @migrationmuseumuk to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the expulsion. Despite the torrential rain we had a fantastic turn out as so many came and joined us in exchanging stories and learning new ones. Thank you @migrationmuseumuk for making this a memorable event. @ugandanasians #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeesarecourageous
A beautiful piece of history is being installed.. A masterpiece by artist Anuradha Patel.... www.sculptural-gateway.org and we want you to be involved in this amazing project.
51 years ago today, on 8th October 1972, our family arrived in the UK as refugees from Uganda. At gunpoint, 300,000 Indians/Asians were asked to leave the country after a military coup led by General Idi Amin. After being in Uganda for 3 generations our family lost everything: property, businesses, money, and possessions. With Uganda being a British colony, we moved to the UK as refugees with just £50 per family from the government. So my parents and extended family arrived in a new country, with broken English and empty pockets. Initially, around 25 of us lived in one house in West London; 7 brothers, 1 sister and their families. This morning, I've been watching video footage of my late father explaining the humility, community, family unity, ingenuity and sheer work ethic it took to rebuild a new life with limited education. I’m here able to read, write and do what I do because of the sacrifices and hard work of that generation. A generation of entrepreneurs who had the humility to work in factories from 8am-5pm, the teamwork to support the family business from 5pm-8pm and then the ingenuity to work from 9pm - 1am at home making bags with their hands and sewing machines - to sell and make additional income. Showing that you don’t need the internet or smartphones to have a Side Gig and additional income stream. Just some skills, hard work and burning desire. They worked hard, saved smart and invested to start their own businesses - giving me, my siblings and cousins the platform for a better life. Today, I’m proud to say that I'm the son of a refugee Indian shopkeeper. (and nephew of uncles who owned ice cream factories. What a fun childhood!🍦). I hope you remember this story the next time you see a news headline about “them refugees” or when a refugee's CV / resume lands in your inbox. I encourage you to: 1. Be empathetic - see the world from their shoes 2. Be curious - every refugee has a story 3. Be open-minded - consider the unique skills that a refugee could bring to your business or network 4. Be someone who takes bet on talented refugees 5. Be a learner - learn more about supporting refugees #refugees #ugandanasians #reslience
@standupali recommended this book to me after we talked about my family’s background of leaving India, settling in Kenya and then migrating again to Canada. Someone once asked me, “Why would your family leave India and go to Africa?” as if that was some kind of lateral move instead of upward. As if it was a simple decision with a single factor to say goodbye to a homeland, climb into a dhow and sail to the unknown. The Indian migration to East Africa occurred in two large waves - the first, when boys and young men were stolen or lured on to boats, away from a country that was being sucked dry by the British, with the promise of work, but were not told where or what or when they would return. Thousands died or were injured building the railway from Mombasa to Uganda. My family came during the second wave. When it became clear there was nothing left in Gujarat for them, they willingly - but I can imagine not easily - set sail for Mombasa and eventually became entrepreneurs. Still under British rule, still being told where they could live, work and socialize. But given privileges or chances to better their lives in some way, pitting them against the native Africans - a relationship with repercussions, the reverberations of which are still felt generations later. In A History of Burning, Pirbhai is part of the first wave of migrants. And we follow his family’s story over the next several generations, through expulsion and on to other lands. I’m only 50 pages in and am hooked by the characters, the sense of place and of course, the story that also lives somewhere in my bones. Thank you @o.janika for your work in researching and writing this in a way that we can all learn through imagination. And thanks Ali for the gift of this recommendation.
Over the last 12 months we have successfully trained 26 volunteers and documented the voices of 29 unique individuals who went through the 1972 expulsion. We want to give thanks to all of those who made this project possible, from our volunteers who gave up their free time, to the interviewees who shared their stories, to the other projects and individuals who collaborated with us and offered us support. This project would not have been possible without YOU. We hope that the legacy of the project will not subside as we now begin the next step of archiving our project findings with the @living_refugee_archive at the University of East London. You can find all the work of the project on our website including teaching packs that we have produced for KS3 & KS4 in order to educate future generations on this important subject. #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
Review from @venicethemenace: A History of Burning by Janika Oza 🚫 DNF 🚫 Those of you who’ve followed our stories for the last few weeks have seen me struggle with this one. At 300 pages, I just had to call it quits. Maybe it was my mood, but I found this multigenerational saga very confusing and slightly tiresome. After a very strong start, the multiple POVs at different places and times didn’t work well for me. However, I very much enjoyed learning about the South Asians who had settled in Uganda in the early 1900s and the very early story about the family of this particular novel. The middle of the novel describes the horrific and tumultuous expulsion of South Asians from Uganda under Idi Amin’s horrific regime and the disbanding of the family across the globe: to India, the US and the UK. After the family splits up, this is where I lost interest. Did I make the right decision? #ahistoryofburning #janikaoza #ugandanasians #thecandidbookclub #didnotfinish #bookishbooks #bookishfeatures #bookishwomen #bookstagramfeatures #southasianauthors
More interviews are now available on our website. We have also begun to upload reflections from our volunteers in which they share their thoughts on being part of this project. Click on the link in our bio to access them #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
The quiet ones. #migrationstories #eastafricanindian #eastafricanasian #migrationhistory #ugandanexpulsion #kenyanindian #kenyanasians #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeestories #refugeecrisis #refugeeweek #postwarbritain #historymatters #migrant #decolonisation #asianpoet #indianwritersofig #indianpoet #poetryoftheday #poetrycommunityofig #uganda50 #britishasian #poetry #wordstoremember #wordsmith #fyp #words #writerscommunity #desipoet
Hi All. Would like to extend this invitation to everyone to come and join the collective opening reception of all the exhibitions now showing at the Surrey Art Gallery on September 23, 2023 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. One of my works has been included as part of the Kampala to Canada Exhibition curated by Taslim Samji. Hope to see you all there. ✌😁 Exciting news! The Kampala to Canada Exhibition is now showing at the Surrey Art Gallery. Untold stories of Ugandan Asians who arrived in Canada in the 70s. Alongside these stories is artwork that explores various aspects of immigration such as loneliness, mental health, assimilation and so much more. ➡️ Curated by Taslim Samji. ➡️ Exhibition runs August 26th, 2023 to January 28th, 2024. ➡️ Opening reception: September 23, 2023 ➡️ This will be a collective opening reception of all the exhibitions now showing at the Surrey Art Gallery. ➡️ Time: 6:30pm - 9pm ➡️ Agenda: Opening remarks and Artist talk by Swapnaa Tamhane. Her work uses textile to challenges colonial hierarchical separation between art, craft and design in India. ➡️ Venue: Surrey Art Gallery, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 3L1 Please share with Ugandan Asians. #ugandanasians See you there!
I’m really excited to be taking part in this event at Battersea Bookshop next Thursday 21st September: I’ll be in conversation with the amazing @lucyfulford, who’s just published ‘The Exiled: Empire, Immigration and the Ugandan Asian Exodus’. It’s a beautifully written, much needed book that weaves Lucy’s own family history with the wider story of Ugandan Asians in Britain, and connects very much to the era I was writing about in ‘What’s In A Name?’. I write from a very personal viewpoint about growing up in Britain in the 70s and early 80s, how British Asians were treated and the wider context of race politics in this country. We both use personal histories to explore migration, empire, colonialism and racism in Britain over the last 50 years. I’m sure it’s going to be a brilliant conversation and I would absolutely love it if you could join us. There’s a link in my bio for tickets, or just click the link below. https://batterseabookshop.com/event-sheela-banerjee-and-lucy-fulford-on-migration-names-and-experiences-698574213277 ❤️❤️❤️ I’ve included two of the gorgeous photos from Lucy’s book - including a poignant photo of the first people to arrive from Uganda. The last photo is of my father (right) and uncle in Southall, in the sixties. Both our families had VW Beatles, and the tradition of buying the same make of car continued. We also had the same make of Renault 12’s later on, this time four families bought in bulk from a car dealer in Harrow! I think it says something about being quite vulnerable in a new country and being very dependent on one another to help make important decisions… #whatsinaname #sceptrebooks #hodderandstoughton #ugandanasians #ugandanasians50years #partitionstories #asianwomenwriters #brownwomenwriters #asiannonfiction
Exciting news! The Kampala to Canada Exhibition is now showing at the Surrey Art Gallery. Untold stories of Ugandan Asians who arrived in Canada in the 70s. Alongside these stories is artwork that explores various aspects of immigration such as loneliness, mental health, assimilation, and so much more. ➡️ Curated by Taslim Samji. ➡️ Exhibition runs August 26th, 2023 to January 28th, 2024. ➡️ Opening reception: September 23, 2023 ➡️ This will be a collective opening reception of all the exhibitions now showing at the Surrey Art Gallery. ➡️ Time: 6:30pm - 9pm ➡️ Agenda: Opening remarks and Artist talk by Swapnaa Tamhane. Her work uses textile to challenge colonial hierarchical separation between art, craft and design in India. ➡️ Venue: Surrey Art Gallery, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 3L1 ➡️ Refreshments served at 8pm. See you there! #UgandanAsians #KampalatoCanada #1972expulsion #immigrationstories #yvrart #surryarts #surreyartgallery #southasiandiaspora #indoafrican #canadianheritage #canadianhistory #cityofsurrey #surreyartexhibitions @surreyartgal #surreyartgalleryassociation
More interviews are now available on our website, offering unique insights and stories from those who lived in Uganda, experienced the 1972 expulsion first-hand, and resettled in the United Kingdom. Click on the link in our bio to access them #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
A beautiful book from my amazing acquaintance Lucy Fulford! Can't wait to read! #theExiled #lucyfulford #ugandanasians #books #nonfiction #emigration #societyandculture
So lovely to finally meet fellow author, Bharti Dhir @bharti_dhir in person today, having met online on a few occasions. We had the opportunity to swap signed copies of our books! 📚 Can’t wait to get stuck in and read her incredible journey as a Ugandan expat. (and that’s my uncle Yogesh in the middle, photobombing us)🤣. #uganda50 #ugandanasians #ugandanasianexpulsion #ugandanasians50 #noreennasim #bhartidhir #expelledfromuganda #worth #authors
Many shades of brown - but ‘we all bleed the same!’ #findinghome #dancers #spokenword @octavia_creates #performers #ugandanasians #ugandanasianexpulsion #ugandanasians50 #firstgeneration #britishasians #livinginmodernbritain #acceptusforwhoweare #integrated @curve_leicester
ACC RECOMMENDED...Visual Arts | Kampala to #canada Exhibition runs August 26–January 28 | #surreyartgallery In 2022, Ugandan-Asian Canadians commemorated the 50th anniversary of their forced exile. Having to flee their home, many migrated to Canada—at the time, they were the largest group of non-Europeans permitted to resettle in postwar Canada. Curated by Taslim Samji, this exhibition acknowledges both the hardships and achievements of Ugandan-Asian Canadians. READ MORE [copy link] https://www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/exhibitions/kampala-canada?utm_source=Art+Gallery&utm_campaign=SAG+%7C+July+2023&utm_medium=email #uganda #ugandanasians
One year on since we performed ‘Finding Home’ (90 Days, Call Me By My Name & Ruka). Three plays exploring the displacement of Ugandan Asians after expulsion! 🇮🇳🇺🇬🇬🇧 #findinghome #90days #callmebymyname #ruka #ugandanasians #ugandanasianexpulsion #over50yearsago #displacement @curve_leicester @britishugandanasians50 @ugandan_exodus
This is from Mariette Lobo whose family went straight to Norway from Uganda. How do you pack your life in a few suitcases and prepare yourself and your children for an unknown future? When I recall my parents sorting out what to carry in the one suitcase each person was allowed to carry, I feel they were trying to pack our whole life in Uganda to take with us. Today I am overwhelmed by how they managed to keep me safe and secure in the devastating fright, anxiety and confusion they went through. I think that the best I could give back to them for all they lost and all the pain they endured was to settle in as quickly as I did in Norway where we ended up, and make the best of the opportunities I have had in this country. When we arrived 50 years ago we were given a warm welcome both by people and the authorities. It is heartbreaking to see how refugees are treated today, and how fellow human beings are left to drown in the Mediterranean denied a safe passage and a safe haven. These harsh policies against refugees combined with a growth in the far right and right wing populism is inflicting insecurity among people like me who have lived in Europe for long - because it questions our belonging here. I will continue to play my part in fighting against racism and for dignity, humanity and safety for all refugees no matter where they are from. Welcoming today’s refugees is also a bulwark against the exclusion and in worst case expulsion of all of us who have settled here before. @ugandanasians #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeeswelcome #refugeesarecourageous
From @milahealingcenter , author of ‘ Out of Uganda in 90 days’ and ‘Mila Rising’ As we mark the 51st anniversary of Idi Amin's announcement to expel all Asians from Uganda. He is no longer in this world, but my memories are vividly alive. I recall my father listening to the news on the radio over and over. For my parents, it felt as if dark clouds blanketed their heads, and the whole family got worried. "Where would we go?" My mother fled the expulsion with her children to India. My father had to stay behind. We did not know for two years if he was alive or dead until he surfaced in Belgium. Meanwhile, In India, we stayed alive with the help of our relatives and my mother selling her belongings, which she smuggled out of Uganda. We stayed in India for two years before reuniting with our father in Belgium. I now live in America. If I were to ask to leave the USA today, I would panic. After calming down, I would fight alongside other potential evacuees in court for my children's and grandchildren's legal rights as American citizens. @ugandanasians @milahealingcenter #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeesarecourageous #refugeeswelcome
Behind every immigration influx is a story waiting to be told! 🇮🇳🇺🇬🇬🇧 Last year, we had the chance to tell our story! This marked 50 years since 60,000 Ugandan Asians were expelled and forced to flee their homes and livelihoods by president Idi Amin. With only £5 in cash, a very small suitcase and resettlement in a new country, one could only imagine what they faced - trauma, uncertainty and above all discrimination. Despite this, many settled in the UK, to which we are proud to call our home! #findinghome #dancers #actors #performers #ugandanasians #ugandanasianexpulsion #ugandanasianshistory @ugandan_exodus @britishugandanasians50 @curve_leicester
From Bharti Dhir author of “Worth”. I remember a few people gathering in the sagati (verandah). They had heard the President’s announcement and come to speak to our mother. I remember the panic, disbelief and confusion on my Mummyji’s face and once we realised the enormity of the situation- the same panic, disbelief and confusion on our faces too. On the one hand- a mounting excitement at the prospect of going abroad in an aeroplane! On the other hand- feeling fearful about where we would go and given what we heard about the atrocities- would we actually make it out alive! “Where were we going to go?”was the resounding thought on going to bed and on waking up? Our father had died the year before and it was just Mummyji with 5 of us. That feeling of the ground opening up and you are falling, falling into an abyss of darkness and uncertainty because you have no idea what the future holds anymore is the main feeling that took over as the deadline to leave loomed closer. If we were asked to leave by 2nd November, the overwhelming feeling for me would be disbelief at being uprooted again. I imagine I would feel rage at the prospect; thinking of all the hard work I have put in going to waste. The taxes I have paid, the national insurance contributions, the house I have bought and the memories of family, friendships, experiences from school through university and work too. My rage would propel me to fight for my right to remain and I imagine I would join countless demonstrations protesting against the Government’s decision. I would hope protests would be allowed without the risk of imprisonment or getting killed. This anniversary is important as there are thousands of refugees who have been forced to leave the way we were forced to in 1972. To every refugee or the displaced remember this- From the ashes of despair rises the Phoenix of hope, faith and belonging and that day will come, just as it did for us. 🙏🏾❤️ @ugandanasians @bharti_dhir #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeesarecourageous #refugeeswelcome
“ The everlasting invisible connections between us” The Red Thread by Bina Briggs “Leaving Uganda was a nightmare that none of us had ever envisaged and so it was a case of survival for all of us. Our parents did what they could, our communities did what they could to salvage anything from a helpless situation in every way, demonstrating strength, resilience, a will to overcome the situation. For me, I remember most of it well and just dealt with it. Coming over to the U.K., having lived my life for the last 51 years, majority of my life has been in the U.K. I have married an Englishman, have had a long career in corporate life, own my own HR Consulrancy business, a published author of two books and have an established life with family, friends and social network. So, if the British government asked me to leave UK for any reason, it would be devastating for me. It would be the same as our parents and elders faced leaving Uganda in 1972. I’m not sure how I’d cope though being resilient, I think I would just get in with what may need doing! @binabriggsltn @ugandanasians #refugeesarecourageous #refugeeswelcome #refugees #ugandanasians
“ My mum always said ‘Shradha raak’” @sejosphere s family had to leave Uganda in the late 1960s as her father’s trading licence was not renewed. Sejal, her parents and her six siblings travelled to India. Her father returned to Uganda but eventually ended up working in England. They didn’t see him for two years while Sejal’s mum looked after her children on limited funds. Sejal says ”I know if I was asked to leave the UK today I would initially be shocked & panicked but would then have the belief & resilience that I will find a way to survive like they did”. @ugandanasians @sejosphere #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeesarecourageous #refugeeswelcome
Fifty one years ago today .. the Times reporting on the shocking announcement by Idi Amin in Uganda expelling all Indians. “I want to reach Britain a lesson as they sent Asians to build railways when they could have used African labour”. We had 90 days to leave. As refugee crisis grows and people are still being forced to leave their homes due to war, famine, persecution we can appreciate the horror they are facing. @ugandanasians #ugandanhistory #ugandanasians #refugees #refugeeswelcome
There's a lot going on with this #beer, both in and on the can. Made to commemorate the awful struggles of #UgandanAsians under #IdiAmin, this 5.5% #masalachai #stout celebrates a blend of cultures (and spices). The taste and aroma is pungent with #cardamom, #cinnamon, #ginger, #nutmeg and #cloves! It makes for a happy and unique union. #beerreviews #beerstagram #craftbeer #buylocal #SaveOurPubs #PubsMattter #90Days #Uganda 🫚
More interviews are now available on our website, offering unique insights and stories from those who lived in Uganda, experienced the 1972 expulsion first-hand, and resettled in the United Kingdom. Click on the link in our bio to access them #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
Today, dad was interviewed for an oral history archive project, an incredible initiative run by @ugandan_asians ❤️🙏🏻 A huge thank you to the team for this fabulous opportunity to record dads story in his very own words. I was so humbled by the way he spoke of his past experiences. Today he reminded me of the resilient soul that he is, and I’m so grateful I have him as a constant reminder in my life of what it truly means to adapt and have gratitude in your heart for all the silver linings. He’s my pillar of strength and the greatest role model God could have ever given me. Love you dad 🙏🏻❤️ #ugandanasians #ugandanasians50 #ugandanasian #ugandanasianexpulsion #expelledfromuganda #amirmajothi #noreennasimauthor #noreennasim #prouddaughter #myhero
"I really cannot turn around and thank them enough, to be honest. They were there at the time of need. You know, and there wasn't this 'Ahhh', you know, how do we say, we say 'becharo'. 'Becharo' means the poor person, helping this poor person. There were no feelings of that, it was, 'Yeah, here it is, if that's what you want, we will support you.' - Karim Meghji yn disgrifio'r caredigrwydd gan y bobl leol yn Tonfanau. Hanner can mlynedd yn ôl ar ddiwedd 1972, diarddelodd Idi Amin 70,000 o bobl Asiaidd o Uganda. Daeth 28,200 i Brydain a bu tua 1,500 o’r rhain yn lletya am hyd at chwe mis yn hen ganolfan y fyddin yn Nhonfannau ger Tywyn. Mae’r prosiect hanes llafar ‘British Ugandan Asians at 50’, wedi cyfweld â phobl leol a wirfoddolodd i helpu Asiaid Uganda, ynghyd â rhai o gyn-drigolion y gwersyll. Ewch i'n wefan i wylio'r straeon ysbrydoledig hyn (linc yn y bio 👆) https://bit.ly/BritishUgandanAsiansat50Cymraeg
"I really cannot turn around and thank them enough, to be honest. They were there at the time of need. You know, and there wasn't this 'Ahhh', you know, how do we say, we say 'becharo'. 'Becharo' means the poor person, helping this poor person. There were no feelings of that, it was, 'Yeah, here it is, if that's what you want, we will support you.' - Karim Meghji describing the kindness of the local people at Tonfanau. Over half a century ago, in late 1972, Idi Amin expelled 70,000 Asian people from Uganda. Among them, approximately 28,200 sought refuge in Britain, and around 1,500 were temporarily housed at the old army base in Tonfannau near Tywyn for up to six months. The 'British Ugandan Asians at 50' oral history project feature interviews with local volunteers who assisted the Ugandan Asians, as well as former residents of the camp. Visit our website to hear these stories (link in bio 👆) https://bit.ly/BritishUgandanAsiansat50
As we embark on the last few months of the 50th year, a throwback to events and work by one of our wonderful Steering Group members @harshinderart Accomplished British Ugandan Asian artist Harshinder Sirah was born in Mbarara, Uganda and came to the UK during the exodus with her family and was initially at the Honiton (Devon) Camp. Now based in Bristol and working in mixed media art inspired by her heritage and travels, she led BUA50 workshops at the Thelma Herbert Gallery, Honiton, and Exeter Library. Harshinder is also a successful designer of bridal and evening wear with many catwalk shows and appearances on the BBC Clothes Show, BBC Radio and India Today to her credit. She works tirelessly as an advocate for art as a tool for autistic children, her own son being diagnosed with Autism in 2003, and as a means of healing the trauma of migration. Thank you @harshinderart for your inspirational work and contribution to BUA50 and the community at large. #exile #migration #identity #refugees #diaspora #art #heritage #storytelling #ugandanasianexpulsion #idiamin #ugandanasians #uganda #eastafrica #britishempire #britishhistory #africanhistory #bua50 #britishugandanasians50 @heritagefunduk
If you’ve still not had chance to read my father’s memoir, Expelled from Uganda, give it a go this summer. You can thank me later for the recommendation. 😉Available now on Amazon. 📘📦📲 #expelledfromuganda #noreennasim #noreennasimauthor #author #authorpreneur #womeninspiringwomen #womenentrepreneurs #wommenauthors #ethnicauthor #ugandanasians #ugandanexpulsion #ugandanindian #ugandanasianexpulsion
A reminder that in just under an hour at 17:00 (GMT+1) our panel discussion will be available to view on YouTube. You can find the link in our bio. #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
We are delighted to present a discussion on the predicament East African Asians found themselves in at the end of empire in the 1960s. It will be available to view on YouTube from Sunday the 25th of June from 17:00 (GMT+1) onwards via the link in the bio #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
As we enter Refugee Week 2023 and we celebrate those have fled their homes through necessity, @sejsac has recently found out that Idi Amin rented a property not far from her current home in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. A full circle moment to note that the man who destroyed so many lives once lived in a leafy part of the UK where @sejsac has called home for nearly 30 years. @ugandanasians @refugeeweekuk @amershammuseum #refugeesarecourageous #refugees #refugeeswelcome #ugandanhistory #ugandanasians
As we enter Refugee Week 2023 and we celebrate those have fled their homes through necessity, @sejsac has recently found out that Idi Amin rented a property not far from her current home in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. A full circle moment to note that the man who destroyed so many lives once lived in a leafy part of the UK where @sejsac has called home for nearly 30 years. @ugandanasians @refugeeweekuk @amershammuseum #refugeesarecourageous #refugees #refugeeswelcome #ugandanhistory #ugandanasians
Due to the great work of our volunteers and interviewees we are continuing to document unique oral histories from the Ugandan Asian community. Head to our website to read, listen & watch the interviews we have documented as part of the From East to West project. #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
An excellent @jaipurlitfest discussion at @britishlibrary yesterday on 'The Double Diaspora: British Ugandan Asians at 50' with authors Hafsa Zayyan @haffy_22, Neema Shah @neemashahauthor, and Ram Gidoomal @ramgidoomal discussing memory, morphing identities, grit, and survival with travel journalist and BUA50 member Meera Dattani @nofixedplans A thought-provoking and insightful conversation covered colonialism, diaspora identity, anti-Blackness, trauma, discrimination, resettlement and much more in which 'Kololo Hill' author Neema Shah, writer and lawyer Hafsa Zayyan, author of 'We Are All Birds Of Uganda', and author of 'My Silk Road: The Adventures and Struggles of a British Asian Refugee', Ram Gidoomal CBE shared what they had encountered through their own stories, their families' and their research around the Ugandan Asian expulsion Thanks to the panellists and to the audience who contributed so much to the interesting Q&A that followed with questions around perspectives, Idi Amin, legacy of colonialism, and much more. Thank you to @jlfinternational for giving a platform to this history and these stories. #exile #migration #identity #refugees #diaspora #storytelling #ugandanasianexpulsion #idiamin #ugandanasians #uganda #britishempire #britishhistory #africanhistory #jlf #britishlibrary #jaipurliteraturefestival @jlfinternational #bua50 #britishugandanasians50
Join us @britishlibrary @jaipurlitfest on Sat 10th June for 'The Double Diaspora: British Ugandan Asians at 50' where authors Hafsa Zayyan @haffy_22, Neema Shah @neemashahauthor, and Ram Gidoomal @ramgidoomal will be discussing the themes of memory, morphing identities, grit, and survival with travel journalist and BUA50 member Meera Dattani @nofixedplans Driven to escape war and violent realities, populations around the world migrate in search of a better life. Fifty years on from the mass migration of people of Asian heritage from Uganda and Kenya, due to expulsion or discrimination, this session traces the trajectory of the emotional and physical travel faced by the double diaspora - those migrant communities who have had to face dual uprootings across continents. Exploring aspirations, resilience, strength, as well as the poignancy and uncertainty of starting afresh will be author of 'Kololo Hill', Neema Shah; writer and lawyer Hafsa Zayyan, author of 'We Are All Birds Of Uganda'; and author of My Silk Road: The Adventures and Struggles of a British Asian Refugee, Ram Gidoomal CBE. The 1.45pm session will be around 45-50 minutes of conversation followed by 10-15 minutes for an audience Q&A. You can buy day and weekend passes for JLF Jaipur Literature Festival from the British Library website - tap the link in our bio. #exile #migration #identity #refugees #diaspora #storytelling #ugandanasianexpulsion #ugandanasians #uganda #britishempire #britishhistory #africanhistory #jlf #britishlibrary #jlflitfest23 #jaipurliteraturefestival #bua50 #britishugandanasians50
We’re at Belgrave Library today and tomorrow 10-2pm having conversations and creative fun! Discussing the new Uganda50 Public Artwork soon to be installed into Belgrave roundabout #Uganda50 #BeautifulBirds #PostcardsHome @leicestermuseums @belgravecommunitygarden #uganda #ugandanasians #uganda50
🥳 I'm excited to share with you all that the publication of my recent exhibition is now available on Amazon. KAMPALA TO CANADA shares the untold stories of Ugandan Asian Canadians. ➡️ 80,000 Asians were given 90 days to leave the country they knew as home for generations, leaving behind family, friends, personal belongings, assets like their properties, cars, businesses, etc. Rebuilding their lives in Canada was not easy, and many immigrants can relate to these stories. 2022 marked the 50 year anniversary since the expulsion order was issued. ➡️ The book includes the artwork of artists who are also immigrants, exploring various aspects of immigration, like loneliness, mental health, assimilation, and so much more. This is the hardcover. The first 10 pages are available to read online. The link is in my bio #KampalatoCanada #fathersdaygifts . . . . . . . . . . . #UgandanAsians #southasianhistory #giftideasfordad #readersareleaders #authorsoninstagram #newauthoralert #newauthors #vancouverartist #southasianauthors #contemporaryhistory #vancouverhistory #pocauthors #historybuff #asianhistory #canadianheritage #canadianhistory #diversitymatters #canadianauthors #booksthatteach
We are running one more training day as part of our project. If you are of Ugandan Asian descent, live in the UK, and are interested in helping document the lived experiences of Ugandan Asians who resettled here in 1972. Then please write to [email protected] #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture
So thankful for all the love and support we received for “NINETY DAYS” (Finding Home series - August 2022) @curve_leicester celebrating the 50 year Anniversary of the south Asian Ugandan exodus. A wonderful feeling to be featured in interviews and articles along with the cast, and to be able to perform as “Geeta” by portraying the hidden history of my community. This role enabled me to be a part of South Asian history and an experience that I will cherish forever. #LatePost Interviews, reviews & Articles: 1. Interviewed by @radhabedi @bbc 2. @guardian 3. Interviewed by @ballardmartin @spotify @spotifypodcasts 4. @pukaarnews 5. @asianculturevulture 6. @filmeshilmy 7. @be_lavie #Actor #Casting #Cast #Theatre #Stage #Acting #Actorslife #Love #Britishindian #southasian #Photography #Photooftheday #NinetyDays #Exodus #India #Africa #Uganda #Ugandanasians @ugandanasians @britishugandanasians50
One of my aunts recently discovered and Whatsapp’d this family wedding photograph of one of my uncles in 1976. He was the youngest of eight brothers, and he sadly passed away last year. This photo is probably taken in London, a few years after the family fled Uganda as part of the Asian exodus in ‘72. Despite being upfront in the group photo, in ‘70’s brown striped wide-lapels and bell-bottom trousers, the only thing I recall is a feeling of distance during the coach journey on the M1 afterwards, bringing the wedding party back home to Leicester, and the coach radio loudly playing ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’, which had been No 1 in the Radio One charts for several weeks. #wedding #asianfamily #1970s #ugandanasians
The day when you get invited by His Majesty's King himself for a reception at the Buckingham Palace. I did the lead character in the play 'Call Me By My Name' at the @curve_leicester last summer, which resonated amongst many people and especially the South Asian community who migrated from Uganda. It was part of 50 years of Ugandan expulsion. The impact of play was so brilliant that we got invited for the Big Ugandan 50 celebration at the Buckingham Palace by British Asian Trust. This type of event makes me proud of the work I do and the difference I make to the peoples lives A massive thank you to CURVE theatre Leicester, for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be part of the project. #Actor #promoter #Casting #Cast #Theatre #Stage #Acting #Actorslife #Love #Britishactor #Photography #Photooftheday #Exodus #India #Africa #Uganda #Ugandanasians @nationaltheatre @castingchhabra @mukeshchhabracc @ugandanasians @britishugandanasians50 @bbcasiannetwork @bbcradio4 @bbcleicester @desiblitz @asianculturevulture @asianvoicenews @rajiv.popat @filmeshilmy @aminataonline @geetapendse @sabrasradio @southasianheritagemonth_uk @southasian_artists
📸 PRESS NIGHT 📸 for NINTEY DAYS - Finding Home !! The most meaningful journey, with amazing people marking the 50th anniversary of the Ugandan Asian exodus ! 🎭 #latepost #Actor #Casting #Cast #Theatre #Stage #Acting #Actorslife #Love #Britishactor #Photography #Photooftheday #NinetyDays #Exodus #India #Africa #Uganda #Ugandanasians @ugandanasians @britishugandanasians50
I recently participated in a panel discussion titled "The Silent Voices in Between" for the From East to West: The History of Ugandan Asians project. Watch the video recording and experience the stories of the Ugandan Asian community who were expelled from their homeland over 50 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loSaA7eQePk #UgandanAsians #OralHistory #SenCA #cdnpoli
A reminder that our touring exhibition has a new home, this time at Manchester Central Library until Saturday 13th May 2023. Please do visit at St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD. The library is open 9am to 8pm daily except Fridays and Saturdays - 9am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays. The exhibition commemorates 50 years since the Ugandan Asian expulsion of 1972 including life at the resettlement camps set up around the UK. #ugandanasians50 #bua50 #britishugandanasiansat50 #uganda #ugandanasians #ugandanasianexpulsion #expulsion1972 #eastafrica #eastafricanhistory #britishhistory #africanhistory #empire #colonisation #exile #migration #resettlement #history
One unique part of the Uprooted 50 Years Ago exhibition that we were able to digitise was the Knitted Panel created by the Greenham Knitters. Visit our website to see it in detail, alongside a key which provides information on each element of the panel. #ugandanasians #ugandaasians #uganda #unitedkingdom #greatbritain #uk #gb #oralhistory #heritagefund #heritagefunduk #project #interview #interviews #history #memory #culture