I really wish I could go to the Samosa Festival!

Zahid Rajan and Zarina Patel of Awaaz Magazine have organised this festival in Nairobi. Details are presented below. I love festivals and have made creating and running them a part of my career.

The programming, content and scope of the events tell me a few things about the festival directors' vision and how they hope to entertain, celebrate and communicate the culture of Asian diaspora. It would be good to be there, talk to the wahindi and their rafikis. They have selected good films and it remains to be seen how the mix of their audiences respond to this offering.

I have seen the films but would see them again. What I would be most interested in is the Photographic and Art Exhibitions. I would like to see how the creators of the work submitted to the Festival see and interpret the cross-cutting themes in their lives through these artforms.

Congratulations to Zahid and Zarina for putting this together. I wish them success. If they are anything like most creative people who are gluttons for punishment, they will be thinking of the next festival before this one has even ended!

SAMOSA FESTIVAL 16 - 25 NOVEMBER 2006

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE OPENING OF THE SAMOSA FESTIVAL ON THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2006 at 6.30PM

AT THE GODOWN ARTS CENTRE (AROUND THE CORNER FROM CAR AND GENERAL, LUSAKA ROAD AND NEXT TO THE GIRO BANK)
PLS CALL ON THE NOS BELOW FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

PROGRAMME

Photographic and Art Exhibitions Open Daily 10.00am - 5.00pm (Entry Free)

Thursday 16 November 6.30pm - Opening of Festival

Friday 17 November 7.00pm - Indian Dance Night: Entry 300/- pp

Saturday 18 November 10.00am - 4.00pm - Childrens Activities
7.00pm - Kachumbari Sounds: Entry 300/- pp


Film Shows at Alliance Francaise at 6.30pm (Entry Free)

Tuesday 21 November - 'Water' by Deepa Mehta

Thursday 23 November - '15 Park Avenue' by Aparna Sen


The Godown Arts Centre: 555227, 555770

Zahid Rajan and Zarina Patel Awaaz Magazine Website: http://www.awaazmag.com/P O Box 32843 NairobiTel: 0722 344900, 0733 741085 Alternative email: http://uk.f862.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=zand.graphics@gmail.com

I have no evidence but I shudder to think...

Do you know of any unwanted and forgotten children...?

It seems to be well known, fully accepted and clearly documented fact that many American soldiers fathered children during their tours of duty in Vietnam. It seems that almost all of of these children were left behind to be brought up by their Vietnamese mothers. I am not aware of any concerted efforts that were made by American servicemen to go back to 'claim' their partners and their children. I think this is an aspect of the war in Vietnam that has not been well documented. I have not come across any serious book which deals with this subject. There was also major occurrence of intermarriage between white men and Indian women during the British raj, leading to the formation of the Anglo-Indian community, which was culturally rich and an achieving one for that.

I would like to know more about what happened in Vietnam and would welcome information from reliable sources.

During the time I was in school in Kampala, one often came across children of mixed race whose fathers had decided to bring them up as Asians. There were notable names in school and divulging them here would be irresponsible. Many of them did well and in the case of a few they also made a name for themselves in several arenas.

So what did really happen to children who were fathered by Ugandan Asian men? Were they living in any predominant geographical area eg the capital or the rural areas? Were they supported by their absentee fathers? I would think not. I shudder to accept the reality that the children were abandoned. I have no evidence but one would hope that the children found stable homes and were able to attend schools of their choice.

However, we also know of some Asian men who married African women, set up respectable homes with them and tried to give the women a proper place in the Asian society. I dont think the Asian society was ready for them. It was racist, judgmental and unfair in a situation where the same society accepted mixed marriages where the women were white. For various reasons, more German women seemed to have married Asian men than any sub-category of 'white' partners. I think there were underlying factors which I will return to in a future post.

Where are they now?

The private sadness of lonely fathers...and mothers.

The story of Asian migration into East Africa consists of many cycles of arrivals lasting 80 odd years from 1890 onwards. The rapid departure of a different generation of Asian people from 1968 to 1972 also shows how a large number of the descendents of the early migrants and of the late arrivals left the three countries in a relatively short period.

It seems safe to say that the Asians followed patterns of chain migration into Africa in very much the same way that their descendants and the aging band of early Asians left the three countries on their way out to find their fortunes in UK, US, Canada, Europe and other parts of the world.

The pattern of dispersal of arrivals into Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania was fairly predictable. Incoming Asians tended to settle in the main cities, Nairobi, Kampala and Dar-es-salaam and the minor towns while many went to the rural areas to run shops or to build new centres for development under the watchful eye of the colonial ruler. Some communities such as the Gujaratis were fairly sedentary, having decided where to set up their businesses they remained there until they were expelled. Others like the Sikhs, Goans and Muslims were fairly mobile. They were not tied to specific locations to earn their living. They moved where there were better prospects.

One thing that was common, regardless of the pattern of arrival or dispersal within the three countries, was how many older Asians acquired secret African mistresses, partners or wives depending on how they wanted to express their relationship in law or in terms of morality. The African women were also sometimes aware that the men had left wives ‘back home’ and that they preferred to have children with their Asian wives than with their African partners. Many Asian families were made up of children that were born after their fathers went on ‘home leave’ after three or four years. The childrens’ ages confirmed these returns.

There were also many children of ‘mixed race’ born to African wives or ‘consorts’ of the departing Asian men. They were almost certainly hidden away in the bush towns and left behind with their mothers. There is no evidence of numbers involved but the Asian men carried their secret children in their hearts and minds. There was also acute sadness in a few cases that I am aware of …. the men, who did not have any other children or partners after they were expelled. They lived alone until they died. How did those children cope after they were abandoned?

Time for reflection- is it all about job satisfaction?

What are you saying?

I am going on and on, because I am getting useful feedback! Many people who know me are sending emails but I have also received a few comments, the first of which I have approved for publication. It deals with what I called the "moods of the shopkeeper". The commentator has a point - does the shopkeeper's service have to do with his moods or with his attitudes? I think there is a lot in that comment.

Let us deal with issue of "attitude" towards servicing the needs of the customer. Not so long ago, a London newspaper, if I am not mistaken it was the Evening Standard which claimed that Asian shopkeepers in London are very "rude". They are constantly talking into their mobile phones, only stopping to take money, never saying thank you, never communicating verbally and fully and, in general, they do not show respect for the customer. Today, our commentator says that this attitude still persists in East Africa.

When I used the word "moods" I was thinking that the shopkeeper's 'job' is not an easy one. When I go into my cornerstore which is run by Sri Lankans, there is a hive of activity. Those people are busy - bringing in new stock, unpacking, filling shelves, cleaning and also serving customers at the same time. But they are never dull and boring. It is wrong to generalise.

But imagine a shop on a dirt road in Africa or India. The retailers lot is a hard one. The shopkeeper is often isolated, living in overcrowded spaces with a few competitors as company.

Was the attitudinal problem unique to East Africa, or just a feature of the Asian retailers wherever they operate? I am afraid that the latter appears to be more common. I have seen that problem in Zambia, Zimbabwe, India, Thailand, the US and Canada. Retailing is a hard life but do they not make it harder for themselves by not taking an interest in the customer?

Perhaps its I who looks too much like a boring customer and am failing to earn respect!

Don't mock us! We are cleverer than you think.

Whatever happened to customer service? What about simple respect for the buyer?

October 1972. I am accompanying an elderly Sikh lady on a 'shopping trip' during our last few days in Uganda. She wants to buy a suitcase to carry her belongings on her last journey out of the country in a few days' time.

We arrive at a shop run by Asian traders and the lady asks for a medium sized suitcase. She is shown a suitcase but from this point onwards the buyer's and sellers minds start to show a huge gap. The shopkeeper wants to charge Shs 2000/- and buyer is ready to pay only Shs 200/- " Why are you charging so much for such a poor quality suitcase?" she asks the trader. Then she goes,
" Remember that the Asians have been expelled and they are all going to need suitcases. What will you do with so much profit? How will get the money out of the country?" she asks while at the same time she wants the trader to be reasonable with the price. Attack and advice dont mix too well.

"Dont worry about the idea of getting money out, Auntie Ji! We have our arrangements in place.... We are not like you Sikhs! We are Gujarati traders and we have our connections...." He made it clear to the elderly Sikh woman that she was in the way and that her comments were not welcome. During the last days of our stay in Uganda, we suffered consequences of escalating demand and fixed supply in this isolated market but never had we seen inflation reaching a factor of 20 plus!

The Asian exodus has created very heavy demand for every single consumer item on display in the shops. Some of the items being purchased are critically essential for the prospective emigrants. Every single piece of "rubbish" that you would have never bought before is now on sale for a markup of 2000% if not more. You are advised to buy quickly, with no comments, and to be grateful for getting the goods. There are hundreds of Asians with fat wallets looking to buy anything worthwhile in order to get their money out of Uganda.

The moody shopkeeper

The recycling of the shopkeeper's moods

I want to share a couple of memories with you. Here is the first one.

I am going back to 1961 where I am standing in a shop on Mengo Road, in Mengo, on the outskirts of Kampala, the Capital of Uganda. The Asian trader who runs the shop is bent over behind the counter, attending to a few chores and just as I walk in, he greets me and asks about everyone. I start to look for the notebook that I had come in to buy. "Yes?" he asks, looking at the African woman who is also there, examining the shiny saucepans on sale. "Do you want to buy this, do you have the money?" he asks with thinly disguised impatience. The woman says something meekly. The trader cannot hear anything, nor can I.

" I say! Do you want to buy these sufurias", pointing harshly at the saucepans.
The woman nods, with a half smile but also half closing her eyes, an expression which brings her rounded cheeks below her small eyes into prominence. They are shining with the oils in her body. The shopkeeper starts his questioning again.
" Show me your money, you, or get out!" he shouts. " Maney? ah haff maney" the woman pleads," but it is at houme.... How maach?" she asks having decided which saucepan she wants. "No! You go!" decides the shopkeeper.

Turning to me he says," These ------- people dont have the money and they come in here to waste my time!" he explains. He asks me if I have noticed a smell in the shop. "I cant smell anything" I reply. He says that a smell has been left behind by the woman.

Just then an Asian 'lady' walks in and starts to admire the same saucepans. Turning to him, she asks for the price. He readily gives the price and waits expectantly but also aware that the woman is going to haggle. After a bit of offer and counter-offer, a sale is made for Shs 20/- with no change given. The Asian woman has hardly walked out of the shop when Karin, the local German doctor's wife comes in. " What lovely saucepans! Come here Helga" she shouts to her colleague. " Oh! Mr Patel! How much are these lovely saucepans?" she drools.

" For you, madame, only Shs 45" replies a beaming Mr Patel. " No, no, no, no, noh! Too mach Mr Patel!" at which the trader says, " OK, you doctor wife, I give you for Shs 35". Helga, who has also been watching says," No. Shs 30, final,OK?" with uncertain authority. Mr Patel starts to pack the saucepan. Karin starts to pull some Ugandan notes out of her purse and hands over Shs 30, and starts to walk out with her shining new saucepans.

"Here, madam!",says Mr Patel," Holding out two shillings," You doctor wife! I give you special discount!"

In the course of some twenty minutes, Mr Patel has managed to get rid of one African customer, sold a saucepan to an Asian woman for Shs 20 and then offered a special deal to the German woman for Shs 28/- " I dont think there is any smell in the shop" I remind him. " Dont worry," replies the shopkeeper," These bloody Africans..." he mutters to himself just as he returns to his chores behind the counter. " I am expecting more notebooks next week. You come back, OK?" he speaks out from behind the counter. I realise that he has figured out that I am not going to buy that notebook. He has got rid of me but very politely.

Life in a seller's market

Some reflections of Asian business in East Africa

The use of the red colour in the title has a purpose. East African Asians have always made good money from their business ventures in the three countries. Here is a hypothesis - had they been running those business ventures in other markets outside East Africa, they might have not done too well and even incurred horrendous losses. The red ink of the auditor would have made life very unpleasant for them.

The East Africa of 1950 to 1972, when I was there, was a seller's market. I expect that things have not changed much since. There were three ingredients of monetary success - fast growing populations, increasing purchasing power and high profit margins made possible by protection from competition.

These conditions did not just create "the dukawallahs' delight" but also created the environment for higher level investors to make a good bit of money. The dukawallah was the trader, the merchant, retailer or dukandar, who bought at low prices and sold with high profit margins. Simple? Oh so simple but there were hidden costs and sacrifices.

While there were a tiny number of Asian business failures, the majority of Asian businessmen made good investments in markets which wanted more and more suppliers. One group of Asian business houses that did not always do too well were the Sikh building contractors. They loved their drink more than their businesses and, I dare say, even their wives. Notably, a few Sikh contractors also became multimillionaires. Most Asians found themselves running businesses that were operating in expanding markets for consumer goods. As the East African business environment has 'peaked', the Asian businessmen have tried to move into capital goods which require higher costs of entry. Allow me to come back to this later.

And now, lets go back to the red ink. The Asian businessmen also made mistakes which were shielded by the very buoyant markets. I will highlight a few of these 'protected' failures next.