A Radio 4 programme will look at the history of Asian migration for the first time, exploring the issue of ‘double displacement’, as was the case with many Gujaratis who first moved to Africa and then the UK.
The programme makers say that:

Whilst researching the pre-immigrant history of Southall, Making History discovered that many younger Asian listeners didn’t really understand a key part of their family migration history. These are youngsters from East African Asian families whose parents and grandparents were either kicked out of Uganda by Idi Amin in 1972 or left places such as Tanzania because of land or financial reforms. The question is, however, when did these people move to East Africa and why?

It adds:

Making History also consulted Professor Rachel Dwyer at SOAS University of London who discussed the bigger story of Asian migration to East Africa and how this was largely fuelled by the needs of colonialists in East Africa particularly at the time the railways were arriving from the 1880’s onwards.

She explained that the Indian population provided the practical and managerial skills that were needed and the majority moved of their own free will to escape the poverty of their part of India to take up the challenge of the newly expanding East African economies. Despite the challenges of independence in the twentieth century there is still a thriving Asian population in East Africa. However, over half of Britain’s Asian community has family links with East Africa

To listen to the programme and find out more, click here.

Producers for the show are also looking to speak to an in-depth programme on Ugandan Asians.

They are looking to speak to Ugandan Asians who lived in camps in here in the UK upon arriving from Uganda in the 1970s. Many were housed in old 2nd World War camps following the exodus and Radio 4 producers want to hear their stories.

If you might be able to help, email Krupa Thakrar.