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East African Asians, including mainly Gujaratis and Punjabis, count as amongst the most successful communities in the UK.
They had migrated from the Indian subcontinent to Africa and then from Africa to the UK between 1968 and 1974 because of persecution in Kenya and Uganda. More than 70,000 arrived in the UK during that period, which provided them refugee support because the countries were former British colonies. The population included Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, but also some Jains and Zoroastrians. Some are Ismaili Muslims, a Shi’a denomination, whose spiritual leader is the Aga Khan.
Over the last two years, a new community organization has emerged celebrating the unique sub-culture of that community. Founded by accountant and community organizer Harshad Kothari, the East African Asians (EAA) organization has brought together a community where the first generation are in some of the most influential private business positions in the UK, with the second and third generations having developed their unique sub-culture that is equal parts Indian, African and British.
The objective of the organization and its portal is to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of East African Asians, to unite East African Asians from around the world, including tracing, preserving, and celebrating their cultural heritage.
The EAA was launched last year with a dinner evening reminiscing about the unique journeys the refugees had taken, followed by a golf day near London.
Earlier this year, the EAA worked with one of London’s major independent hoteliers, Tony Matharu of Blue Orchid Group, to put together a seminar and networking reception bringing together more than 200 leaders from the community. It featured a fireside chat with Chief Guest Dr. Vijay Patel OBE of Waymade Pharmaceutical Group, who is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest South Asians in the UK. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also has East African roots, as well as former Cabinet Ministers Priti Patel, Shailesh Vara and Suella Braverman and Lord Dolar Popat.
It was very different upon their arrival to British shores. According to academic Sara Cosemans, many of them managed to resettle in the United Kingdom, despite anti-immigrant sentiments and increasingly restrictive immigration legislation. About 10,000 ‘Asians of undetermined origin’, were resettled as refugees under auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The attendees reflected the strength of feeling in the room about bringing together this community: the Ambassador of Uganda to the UK Her Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the oldest South Asian newspaper group in the UK CB Patel, hotelier and treasurer of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in London Vinu Bhattessa OBE, former Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Shailesh Vara and others.
Kothari said that he is striving to ensure this community can meet more regularly and grow together, supporting the next generation’s growth in the UK.
