I was living in Leicester when many Ugandan Asians were forced out of Uganda, and it was interesting to read this well written debut novel about the effect this has had on many generations both in the UK and Uganda.
Thank you to netgalley and random house for an advance copy of this book

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a stunning debut from the young but obviously talented Hafsa Zayyan. Layered and emotive, rich and vast, delicate yet brutal, in telling the cultural, social and political history of South Asians as migrants in Uganda and beyond. Part history lesson, part coming of age story. Such careful consideration was put in to describing not just what happened, but the reasons why these things happened without placing obvious blame on any one side.

Racial tension between Whites and non-Whites is often written about, but tension between non-White groups has much left unsaid. This book fills this gap perfectly.

This book has given me so much to think about. I'm so glad it came also with a resource list to find out more.

I will most definitely be highly recommending this to others.

This is a very thought-provoking novel about identity and the consequences of colonialism. The story centres on Sameer, a second generation immigrant, whose life starts to unravel as he becomes disenchanted with his City career and lifestyle. Through the split narrative and timeline we learn how Sameer's family came to settle in England following the expulsion of Asian Ugandans, and glean how life was for the Asians who were transported over to Uganda by the British for their own aims. The resulting loss of cultural identity is very moving, as is the disgusting racism all-too-frequently encountered. Although the novel is well written and structured, I found the second half a bit long and overly religious. I was also irritated by the 'idyllic' scenes of dinner being served by the ladies of the house and the passivity of many of the female characters. An interesting and very topical novel nonetheless.

Zayyan beautifully explores themes of belonging, race and the history of South Asian migration in this incredible debut.

The book utilises two narrative POVs. The first is the current day, third person narrative of Sameer - a 2nd generation Asian immigrant in the UK, juggling his own life as a career driven millennial with the opposing and ever present expectations of his family, all while grappling with his own sense of identity.

We are then taken back to 1960s Uganda. Hasan's chapters are told through letters to his deceased wife. He writes to his lost love, updating her on his life without her and it is through these letters that we learn of how East African born Asians were expelled from Uganda under the leadership of Idi Amin, of how many were stripped of their identity and the only home they've ever known, forced to relocate.

The differing narratives are captivating, echoing shared experiences despite the dramatic shifts in time and context and despite the storylines unfolding separately, they also bounce off each other so seamlessly. As with any book with multiple narratives, you wonder how the POVs will eventually collide with each other, and this moment in We Are All Bird of Uganda is perfect. So intentionally and brilliantly done.

It's incredible how Zayyan is able to unpack the complexities of generational culture. The internal tug of war every child of immigrants has wrestled with hit very close to home, so much so that I felt a knot in my stomach while reading it. It was both beautiful and painful seeing these shared experiences laid out in this stunning work of fiction.

I loved this book. It explores an often unspoken history alongside identity, family tensions, religion and personal turmoil so subtly and beautifully, with a cast of complex and rich characters. It's no surprise Zayyan won the Merky writers prize, and I have no doubt that it's the start of many writing awards to come.

This is an exceptional book. The story-telling is engaging and captivating. Told from two different time periods and POVs, it was never confusing or jarring. I was equally invested in each storyline. The complexity of the racial issues and historical colonialism was fascinating. I can't wait to read more about Uganda's history (thanks to the bibliography, I know where to start.) But it's the characters who bring this story to life. Sameer and his family, and Maryam and her family are all interconnected and multi-dimensional. I could feel the tension in Sameer between his life and the life he is looking for. And I love Maryam's reasoned and clear-eyed views of the past and current situation in Uganda. I will be recommending this book to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Merky Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I’ve read this through Netgalley and I don’t even know where to begin, I’m feeling many emotions.
I loved this book and its characters that often felt so real I feel like I really know them now!
I have a particular soft spot for epistolary novels and this one did not disappoint. The placement of the letters throughout was always at the right time and the last one made my jaw drop!
The sense of setting and place was incredibly well done and although I have never been to Uganda I feel like I can taste its air and smell its streets. Like I could walk out of the Entebbe airport and already know what I’ll be seeing!
I did feel a bit unsatisfied by the ending. When I turned the page to the acknowledgements I felt certain I had missed a bit. I understand why it was open and I realise that the ambiguity is an important part of it, but there where a good few loose threads that I would love to see wrapped into a neat bow. Not only do I want to know more about Sameer, I also want to know what happens to Rahool and Jeremiah and Zara.

I was surprised to read that this is the author’s fiction debut - I would never have known as this is a wonderfully written book. It is well paced, engaging, educational (for me at least) and emotional.

The book tells the story of two members of one family separated by generations: Hasan who lives in 1960s Uganda but is of Asian heritage is struggling with his business and family life after the death of his wife. Then there is his grandson, Sameer who is a successful lawyer in London and about to get a big promotion but a tragic event and the influence of his family make him question what he wants from his life.

Much like Sameer in the first parts of the book, I knew little of the history of Uganda and the turmoil it experienced in the twentieth century and I am grateful to the author for enlightening me. The book goes through some of the history through Hasan’s eyes rather than as a step by step recounting and this is much more impactful.

I am also grateful for such a touching story. Ultimately, it is a story of family and friendships and the different ways, both positive and negative, that the people around you can influence you. This is something that certainly resonated with me.

I can highly recommend this book but whatever I say, I suspect this book will rightly do very well and I’m grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read it.

A novel set in Uganda and England. Describing the troubles between the native Ugandans and the Indian Asian population of the 1970's, during Idi Amin's rule of Uganda and the resulting aftermath. This was a very thought provoking book, explaining life within an Indian Asian family and the values and expectations they have of their family members. It touched on some of the Muslim religious traditions. It also described some of the problems of the Indian Asians when they had to flee to the UK from Uganda, with the racial tensions this caused.
Whilst the aggressions of the Idi Amin era were touched on they were not graphically described. It was more a love story between a younger generation Indian and a Ugandan girl and all the complications this entailed. With flash backs to the 1960's and 70's in Uganda, described in letters written by a grandfather to his deceased wife.
After reading this novel I feel as though I have a little better understanding of the situation in Uganda and the UK of the Indian Asian population. I enjoyed the read.

The first thing I think when reviewing books is, do I want to finish the book? Well the answer here was yes, I thought the book came from a very interesting perspective. I knew a little about the asian people's plight in Uganda but never really thought about any impact there was around this event. Over 27,000 asians left Uganda and came to the UK in the 1970's but this was only part of the story. How fitting the book is published this year, when the Black Lives Matter movement has touched so many. We need to learn more.
The story that threads through this book, through two generations is a touching one and this alone leaves the reader wanting to know what happens.
I enjoyed the book and it got me thinking. more about racism, about love, loss and family. It is also a book that will stay with me and I will remember it for a long time to come.
Well done Hafsa Zayyan

We Are All Birds of Uganda 🇺🇬

This is a long review and if you’re not here for the ride let me just tell you this is an excellent 5 ⭐️ read!

A stunning debut novel from Hafsa Zayyan following the story of a multigenerational family and their south Asian Ugandan migrant experience. We learn about the threats and ultimate expulsion faced by Asians in a post-independence Uganda.

Sameer is a high flying lawyer in present day London striving for partnership who is confronted with constant subtle and overt racism in his workplace and an internal conflict about whether to return to Leicester to join the family business or to to take a promotion in Singapore. Sameer’s career decisions are also entwined with a journey to find his identity as a child of a family who have faced twice migration and constant struggles trying to find their “place” in the world.

Hasan’s chapters are written as letters in the 60s to his deceased wife, who was the love of his life. As the only person he could really talk to, Hasan opens up in the pages and exposes his mind, his personal identity crisis when he is stripped of his citizenship, and his experiences under the leadership of Idi Amin in Uganda.

The writing is beautiful and evokes so much emotion in an already passionate story. I highlighted so many passages that made me stop to absorb the words. For a book that deals with such deep themes whilst also being so educational I was surprised at how easy it was to read.

I loved how Sameer’s visit to Uganda was used to expose the feelings of being an outsider as Asian in a place that was once his family’s home. That this feeling is still there so many years later shows how entrenched the mistrust and dislike of Asian traders was in Uganda.

I also loved how religion was weaved through the story and how it brought different people together. Sameer is welcomed in the mosque in Uganda and his ultimate full embrace of Islam has to be partly thanks to that experience.

Pre-order this now at Waterstones or bookshop.org - out 21 Jan!

Thanks to @merkybooks @penguinukbooks @haffy_22 for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

A beautiful story of identity, family, love, growth and belonging.

The novel expertly transcends time, as we follow two men facing different challenges at different points in history, one in present day and the other in 1960s Uganda. The two protagonists are raw and realistic, sharing their experiences in life. Hafsa explores themes of ethnicity, race, family and cultural and religious expectations, offering a truly multi-faceted view of racism. Other topics covered include love, loss, family, religion and difficult career decisions. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Uganda throughout the novel, transporting me on the cold winter days I spent devouring this novel.

I learnt so much through reading this, but it didn't feel like I was reading a non-fiction history book at any point. Hafsa does an amazing job of weaving significant historical events, in this case the expulsion of East African Indians from Uganda, into the narrative, and the first person letters from Hasan are heartbreaking and realistic. He is a flawed narrator which makes the book feel so real. On the other hand, I connected with Sameer straight away, and found his personal development through the novel to be both satisfying and deeply moving.

This is an outstanding debut piece of work which asks the question: Where does anyone really belong? Despite the topics covered, it is easy to read and the quality of Hafsa's writing is exceptional. I can't wait to read what Hafsa writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of its release on January 21st.

An interesting story of the life of Ugandan Asians, expelled from their home and trying to come to terms with a new life and identity. Although at times it felt more like an earnest history lesson than a novel, it is an interesting exploration of where home is and how hard it can be to meet the expectations of family whilst also trying to follow your own path.

Hafsa Zayyan is a successful London based laywer (daughter of a Nigerian father and Pakistani mother) specialising in international arbitration and litigation, who was the winner of the inaugural 2019 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize with this her debut novel – due to be published in 2021, a sensitive exploration of racism, family identity and faith across a range of cultures and generations.

The book is split into two largely alternating sections.

The first is a present tense (and present day), third party point of view of Sameer – a high flying London based M&A lawyer for an international law firm. Sameer, Leicester born, is the only son of an Asian Muslim family exiled to the UK after Idi Amin’s 1972 expulsion of the Asians from Uganda – a family which has prospered in the UK with a series of Midlands based East African Asian cuisine restaurants (Kampala Nights). Sameer’s family see his high-flying career as something of a temporary aberration before he finally fulfils his destiny to rejoin the family business (and marry appropriately) – but Sameer is enthused by the prospect of a prestigious secondment to be part of a new office opening in Singapore.

The conflict between Sameer’s career and family obligations is complicated by a series of developments: his best friend and IT consultant Rahool deciding to quit an unfullfilling IT consultancy career and join the family vehicle rental business – increasing his family’s expectations that he will do the same; the loss of his main supporting Partner at work and the replacement with another partner (also to be head of the Singapore office) whose interactions with Sameer are peppered with racist micro-aggressions; a physical racist attack on Rahool which leaves him in a coma.

The second sections are a series of expository letters written over a timeframe which stretches from 1945 through 1981. They are written by Hasan, starting on the night of his marriage to his second wife, to his first wife and true-love Amira (who died unexpectedly). Hasan (Sameer’s grandfather) is a successful businessman and shop owner: the letters function effectively function as his narrative diary – a way for him to trace the rise of his business and then the increasing challenges it faces after independence with an increasing rise in African nationalism and Indophobia culminating in Amin’s actions (something which catches the overly optimistic Hasan – but not his family – largely by surprise). The letters are rather (perhaps unrealistically) exposition heavy and so function for the reader (and later Sameer when he is given them) as a history lesson.

The storylines converge when Sameer, largely to avoid the conflict he is facing between obligations, takes up an opportunity to visit a Ugandan based family friend – and while there visits the house where his grandfather used to live, now owned by the family of Abdullah – a black Ugandan muslim Hasan’s family assistant, turned right hand man (in what started as a case study in African/Asian partnership but increasingly became an awkward if not dangerous relationship for them both). There he strikes up a friendship with Abdullah’s grandaughter Maryam.

Where the book excels is in its multi-faceted views of racism – seen from both those in a privileged position and those who are the victims: in many cases the same people and groups taking both positions at different times and in different countries or places: Sameer for example experiencing Rahool as a victim of clear racial violence; becoming more and more conscious of what Hasan really felt about Abdullah and about how Hasan struggled when the non-privileged suddenly gained power; becoming more exposed to the current-day prejudices of his own family; shocked and in denial when the victim of prejudice in his own workplace but (when Jeremiah identifies it immediately) suddenly becoming all too aware that until now in his academic success and professional circles he has experienced almost no racism and that Jeremiah’s experience has been fundamentally different.

The book is also an unusually sympathetic and sensitive portrait of faith. Challenged by what he has seen and those he mixes with, particularly Maryam and her family, Sameer starts to take his own Islamic faith more seriously. And one of the real heroes of the book is Sameer’s other childhood and present day friend – Jeremiah, a black Christian from Leicester, increasingly successful as a music producer and a faithful friend and confidant to both Sameer and Rahool.

And the book has a fantastic sense of authenticity, not just in the descriptions of high pressured law firm life (no surprise given the author’s background) but equally (and more surprisingly) in its capture of Kampala and Uganda – although I have never visited the City I have friends who have lived there for years and the book closely matched their own descriptions.

Overall a worthwhile as well as enjoyable read and surely a strong contender for the 2021 Women’s Prize.

"You can't exactly stop birds from flying, can you? They don't recognise borders- they go where they will... In a way, I suppose we are all birds of Uganda" Hafsa Zayyan.

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We Are All Birds of Uganda is set between two continents and two periods of time 🇺🇬 🇬🇧 . In the 1960's Hasan was emotionally struggling to deal with the death of his beloved wife, when a new regime led by Idi Amin led to the expulsion of Asian people from Uganda. They were given just 90 days to pack up their belongings and leave.
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This story runs alongside the present day, following Sameer who is first generation son to parents who moved to Leicester from Uganda. Sameer is a high flying lawyer in London, who returns back home to Leicester and begins to question who he is and where he belongs.

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This book has so many elements that resonated deeply with me as a reader. I know many people who left Uganda and moved to the UK, and reading a story about that gave me a small insight in to what they must have experienced as 'twice migrants'. The exploration of family, identity, religion, love and racism was beautifully explored it's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I found reading Hasan's crisis over his nationality particularly emotional, and the use of letters as a narrative was effective in drawing you into Hasan's thoughts and feelings. I can't wait to read more of @haffy_22 ‘s work and highly recommend this book- 5 ⭐️

We Are All Birds of Uganda follows two timelines of one family: modern London where young lawyer Sameer chooses his own path with a work opportunity in Singapore over his family's business, and 1970s Uganda, where Hasan is forced to leave as an Asian under Amin's regime.
This book covers a wide range of themes, from colonialism, racism and its different forms in Britain and Uganda, family duty, religion, belonging and love.

Although I appreciated the two different timelines and perspectives, I wasn't as interested in Hasan's letters as Sameer's perspective. It did reveal more about Ugandan history and Asian expulsion, which has prompted me to research that further, but we were just being told what was happening. At first I was wary of the lack of comment on his outdated and racist views, but it was definitely addressed later on, and I think the merging of Sameer and Hasan's lives was well done. It was also good to see another Ugandan perspective with Maryam to challenge these views.
You really get into Sameer's head and share his stress, anxieties and indecision. The most prominent theme was Sameer's reoccurring conflictions with identity and belonging, which I think was presented and concluded brilliantly.

This is an amazing debut novel!

A heartwarming, thought provoking, and sad story about race, racism, family expectations, and finding oneself. Having the right education, being on the way to greatness, earning a lot of money, getting promoted... might not lead to happiness after all. Being alone, never having time, and always feeling like something is missing. That is Sameer's life in London.

His family expects him to move back home and work for the family business. His company expects him to move to Singapore to set up a new branch. A partner at work expects him to not be Muslim, because for instance Ramadan takes its toll. Sameer tries his best to fit in, but it's impossible to make everyone happy, and he needs a break from it all. He takes six weeks off, and first goes back to Leicester, where his family is, and his friend, who is in a coma after a racist attack. He then travels on to Uganda, where his roots are.

Asians were kicked out of Uganda during Amin's regime. Where does anyone really belong? It is a great question, and the answer is different, depending on who you are. Sameer however finds what he didn't even know he was looking for, as well as some things he was looking for, in Uganda.

The author has tackled universal subjects of ethnicity, race, racism, family, and expectations in a way that I admire. Racism is sadly everywhere, and it goes through the whole society in every possible direction, and sometimes it feels like it goes beyond that to a strange sphere I cannot explain.

Despite the heavy subjects the book is easy to read, it flows nicely, and it is well-written. Old traditions and the modern world clashes constantly in this book, and I'm sure it's reality for many people in everyday life. I enjoyed reading about Sameer, and how he grew from being a person who simply does what he is supposed to do, even though t didn't make him happy, to someone completely different. I recommend this book!

Book review - No spoilers
We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan
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A story told over many decades; the story follows Sameer, in the present day and Hasan, through letters about his life that spans 40 years. Both of them connected to Uganda.
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Sameer is a high flying lawyer in London, who has the chance to start a new firm in Singapore. However, his parents would prefer him to come home to Leicester to join the family business. When a family friend comes to visit from Uganda, Sameer has to face a choice; do as his parents want or forge a path for himself.
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Hasan is the owner of a very successful business in Uganda. Having lost his beloved wife Amira, he writes about his life in Uganda, as letters to her. Through these letters we find out how Idi Amin forced Asian East Africans out of Uganda, and how that affected not only the lives of the Asians, but the Africans too.
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The story travels and transcends time, as we see the issues faced by both men, separated by generations, and how Uganda is the beating heart of the story.
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Juggling racism, politics and family, all in one so seamlessly. Racism plays a key role throughout, not only balancing the racism in Britain, but how this played out in Uganda, and changed its politics forever.
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I know little of Idi Amin’s life, but found this story a clever way in injecting history, of not only Uganda, but India and England as well.
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Sameer’s fears of not knowing his identity, is one I have struggled with myself. But to see his journey with this was exciting to witness. Hasan’s story is a difficult one, but so important for all of us to learn from.
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This has been a stunning debut and I cannot wait to read more from Zayyan. I could almost feel the Ugandan sun in my skin, smell the spices and see the colours all around. Zayyan writes as a true bird of Uganda, such vivid scenes brought to life in front of you.
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Thank you to @merkybook and @penguinukbooks for graciously gifting me this copy. You can pre-order from Waterstones and Bookshop.org.uk. This book is out 21st January!
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Favourite Quote
You can’t exactly stop birds from flying, can you? They don’t recognise borders - they go where they will.
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Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

We Are All Birds of Uganda is a marriage between history and the present day; a reconciliation of old and new-found identities; an amalgamation of the strengths and struggles of the Ugandan-Asian diaspora, seeping through generations.

We follow two points of view; Sameer, a high-flying lawyer in London who despite having a successful career, chooses to quit and depart on a journey of self-discovery and purpose. Hasan's point of view is told entirely in epistolary form, as he lays bare his most inner thoughts, feelings and truths in letters to his deceased wife, Amira.

Racism is a keynote throughout; bubbling at the surface, as the past and present narratives parallel the experiences of the Asian community in Britain and the Asian-African racial tensions in Uganda.

Sameer's relentless quest for purpose and attempts at piecing together fragments of his identity are heartfelt and admirable. His feelings palpable, lifting off the pages, powered through Zayyan's sincere and expressive writing.

One of my favourite thing within the novel is the simplistic way in which Zayyan delineates Islaam. The gradual and tender process in which its tenets become woven into the threads of Sameer's being; offering itself as a spiritual haven.

As difficult as they were, I loved reading Hasan's chapters. His letters were historical anecdotes, painting a clear picture of turbulent Uganda under Idi Amin. History bleeds into the prose and writing, laying it bare. Feelings of despair and desperation suffocate the pages as Hasan, at one point is rendered stateless with no land to claim his own.

This novel was a revelation for me in many ways. It moved, enlightened and held me within its folds as a companion moving back and forth through time. I highly recommend it and sincerely hope that Hafsa considers giving us a sequel because that ending was something. I would also love more on Maryam, a character that inspired me in more ways than one.

Review: We Are All Birds of Uganda 🇺🇬 by Hafsa Zayyan.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Winner of @merkybooks New Writers’ Prize.
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A beautiful story of identity, love and personal growth.

Present day: Sameer, a successful young lawyer preparing to leave London for a promotion in Singapore.
1960s: Hasan, a successful Asian businessman in Uganda, at the time of huge political change and unrest.

We are all birds of Uganda weaves the stories of Sameer and Hasan through alternate chapters.
I have not enjoyed a book as much as this since Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

Without giving away spoilers it is through Zayyan’s storytelling we see Sameer really come of age and find his true self. Allowing himself to take some time to reflect on his life choices and discover his family history the reader experiences and lives Sameer’s transformation with him.

Is is through love letters written by Hasan to his widow that we learn about the political and cultural recent history of Uganda. Hasan’s letters give the reader an insight into British colonial rule, the height of Asian success and the racism endured by African Ugandans in their own country. Hasan writes of the political changes that brought about mass expulsion of Asian immigrants, leaving many nation-less.
Hasan’s letters are not only educational, they are the foundations of how Sameer became who he is today.

A book which simultaneously delivers themes of identity,racism, love, family dynamics and expectations, colonial legacy and religion through believable characters that I still want to hear more from.

I cannot believe this is a debut novel!

‘You can’t exactly stop birds from flying can you? They don’t recognise borders - they go where they will.’

A huge thank you to @penguinukbooks for the opportunity to read and review @haffy_22 ‘s incredible debut novel ahead of its release on January 22nd 2021. I’ve loved taking part in this #BookTour #weareallbirdsofuganda is available to pre-order now at Waterstones and other retailers.
I cannot recommend it enough!

A fantastic debut novel!

I loved how the setting moved between London/ Leicester in the present day and Uganda in the 20th century. I did not know about second migration before reading this book and felt I learnt a lot. The characters and plot were well developed, though I wanted to know what happened after the ending!

Would fully recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Hafsa Zayyan writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.