mujer literatura. la en Palabras clave todavía. escrito ha no se asiática, por ser privilegiado social mujer, precisamente por ser ranking su de como africana asiática la de subalterno papel del tanto novela que que trate la concluye constatando artículo el surasiática, comunidad la de dentro dobles los raseros de implícita Siddiqi crítica su con Jamila obra de la en género de relaciones las de deconstrucción la de a pesar No obstante, obsoletas. barreras las desmantelar modo este yde lo prohibido ylo transgresor, activamente asimilar de capaces mujeres son más que las sugiere se Finalmente, Oriental. África en asiáticos los de privilegiada posición social la de aprovechándose femenina subjetividad de formas nuevas de negociación la en activos agentes ocomo rígida, igualmente familiar estructura una de Siddiqi víctimas como Jameela y, recientemente, M.G. como más Vassanji yPeter escritores hecho Nazareth han que ellas de el retrato asimismo, Examina, establecida. firmemente colonial jerarquía la de dentro espacio propio su crearon asiático mujeres sur del qué punto las hasta descifrar intenta Se zona. dicha en tiene rol sobre el mujer que la surasiática cuestiones de serie una yformula literarios, textos en Oriental África el en mujer la de asiática representación la de perspectiva una da artículo Este Resumen Keywords written. to be yet is Asian an as ranking social her privileged and awoman as state subaltern Asian’s African East female the both with to terms comes novel that the that by observing concludes paper the community, Asian South the within rife double ofcritique the standards Siddiqi’s embedded its work with Jamila in of relations gender deconstruction despite the However, barriers. obsolete dismantling consequently and transgressive the prohibited and the welcoming of actively more women capable are that it suggests Finally Africa. East in of position Asians social privileged of the advantage taking through subjectivity of female forms of new negotiation the in agents or active structure family rigid equally of an victims either Siddiqi more as recently, M.G.Vassanji and, Jameela as such ers Peter Nazareth and by writ of them portrayal the hierarchy. It examines colonial established rigidly the within to which extent the to unravel It seeks Africa. and texts literary T Abstract his paper paper his COPING WITH KHANDAANITY IN DIASPORA SPACES: DIASPORA IN KHANDAANITY COPING WITH Revista CanariadeEstudiosIngleses : South Asian Women in East Africa, Diaspora Writing, Literary Femaleness. Literary Writing, Diaspora Africa, Women East in Asian : South provides a survey on the representation of the female East African Asian in in Asian African East female of the representation on the a survey provides SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN IN EAST AFRICA EAST WOMEN IN ASIAN SOUTH : Mujeres surasiáticas en África Oriental, escritura de la diáspora, la diáspora, la de escritura Oriental, África en : Mujeres surasiáticas poses a series of questions on the role of the South Asian woman in East East in woman Asian role South on of the the of questions aseries poses Universitat AutònomaUniversitat Barcelona de Felicity Hand , 70 South Asian women created their own space space own their women created Asian South ; May 2015,pp. 13-40; ISSN: 0211-5913 1 -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 13 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 14 and women, but before dealing with them, I would like to outline the sociocultural sociocultural the to outline them, Iwould like women, with and but before dealing men writers, Asian African work East the of various discussing be community. Iwill Asian African East of an women construction the role in ravel the of Asian South un and issues these to address Iwish article this In obsolete barriers? dismantling consequently and prohibited the welcoming capable of actively transgressive the and more they men? Are than painfully less quicker and land new to the become attached to how “home.” itas long order as one in aplace to in live must claim women Do of novels the mentioned Many of writers the question the above beg Africa? East in position of Asians it social were, as of privileged the advantage, by taking agency of forms new female have negotiated they that suggest or do they structure family rigid equally of an more and, recently,reth victims as Siddiqi them Jameela portray M.G. as Vassanji such writers Do hierarchy? Peter and colonial Naza established determined: gender are experiences how diaspora describes she which considerably from men’s borne is out quotation following by the from way. same the in lived women’s That be– conditiondiffer not are –cannot experiences “the forgotten pioneers” called (93).has immigrant to the responses female and Male Seidenberg April of Dana what underestimated– and neglected often stories –so the and telling gaps the in filling are origin Asian African of writers East creative years but recent experience in Asian African East into female the research of academic territory. unfamiliar ahitherto in afamily but raised tracks railway. We told of grandmother’s are the little African story, noEast railway she laid who the built one Indians of many was the grandfather, Vikram’sPeshawari, paternal of Lall World Vikram The In-Between M.G.in children Lall Vassanji’s The experience. amale exclusively as almost rated Asian” asshorthand. heterogeneous group, linguistically, religiously andculturallybutIamusingtheterm“South Competitiveness, project FFI2012-32626. 2 1 rigidly the within space women own their created How have Asian South (Brah 194) gender relations. by shaped differently be also womenof will men and experiences the generation each Within realities. cultural and political economic, new to negotiate learns and networks, social new to form to reorientate, one tries as displacement and of disruption experiences by the and behind, left recently was of it by what memories is as mediated of generations, subsequent that from different is migration of the place to generation first of the relationship the Clearly Asians the settlement South of of history The

As willbediscussedlateron,the South Asiandiaspora ofEastAfricaisanextremely Research forthisessayhasbeenfundedby theSpanish ofEconomy Ministry and 1. INTRODUCTION (2003) are third generation Africans, Anand Lal Lal Anand generation (2003) Africans, third are 1 2 in East Africa has been nar been has Africa East in There has been a dearth a dearth been Therehas Avtar Brah in in Brah Avtar - - - USA. See Hand 1999&2004. respectability. See as it defines Brah situations. diverse in characters female and by male shown of responses different variety the through language, and faith background, in diversity their and hybridity cultural their cultivate where to so speak, people can, called has Brah sociologist Avtar article. this in with dealt be will that female, and male both of writers, the narratives the inform complicity of the womenwith themselves– in conductcode of inscribed the strict adherence to The moved on. has society Indian that of fact ignorant the departure, of their time at the were prevalent that on holding values to into the rigidly translate culture their preserve to attempts their and of past the India an in become frozen Immigrants globe. the around communities diasporic various the it among acommon is reaction as Africa East phenomenon in This is to Indians notconfined conservatism. just excessive an conductand of codes and mores Asian South of glorification to the leads turns in of which heterogeneity, voices terms of (Sen in dissent” 46) masks and especially of [which] “siege cohesion a kind mentality aids encourages often context diaspora The respectability. community’s– therefore the of her –and preservation family’s the through womanhood to her Indian true by remaining home diaspora the in Indian the be to responsibleexpected formaintaining is woman behaviour.Indian Therect and where framework for cor honour to a affirmed be provides moral has Indianness wheretheis woman, of family.domain The the domestic is space, its traditions, and on shouldersculture of women. the the the site its India, Thus of the for preservation placed extent, to alarge is, traditions and customs to its ancestral munity, faithful of a homogeneousimage com this coherence. and The burden of unity preserving of of name outsiders the eyes in “traditional,” prying as hidden from the are labelled those including culture, of lived any divergences and contradictions usual the that mean purity for cultural public in calls and maintained is a monolithic community of appearance the diaspora, of power. money Asian lack South or the social Within replace upheld– can correctly –if honour and of family purity the the as sexuality to referred as usually is concept of that honour prestige and other words in the Vassanji G. of M. termed what “khandaanity,” has constraints Behind the notion the ofBehind 4 3 It multiple where is processes. psychic and cultural, political, of economic, ence apoint of conflu as border, dis/location and of diaspora, intersectionality the problematises what Asians African Fiction about by and East written

Vassanji coinsthisHinglish expression from theCutchi-Gujerati word I have discussedthisphenomenonwithinSouth Asiancommunities intheUKand 2. 2. THE SOUTH ASIAN PRESENCE IN EAST AFRICA EAST IN PRESENCE ASIAN SOUTH THE The Gunny Sack (83). izzat diaspora space. space. diaspora lies the fear, the control lies or of shaping women’s Diaspora space refers to the area area to refers the space Diaspora izzat or or izzat khandaanity . 3 khandaan meaning meaning –often –often - - - 4

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 15 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 16 Persian-Portuguese place,andwe wholived there were really peopleoftheIndian Ocean. True Africa the eastcoast,andthatmadedifference. African.ItThe coastwasnot truly wasan Arab-Indian- by diasporicinscriptions” (1). on 1497 later in Africa´s and chants Malindi coast reached Vasco east Gama da Polo mentions Marco 1260 Gujerati Era. in AD mer of Christian the century first the as early as Ocean of ancient of the Indian network the part as Africa East with connections mercantile long-standing had India centuries. for many Africa. East enterprise in what’s imperial British the in collaborators more, as and, “dukawallahs,” as “Africans,” more and specifically than rather “Indians” as read for centuries, Africa in lived had family his V.S. in Salim Naipaul’s that novelDespite fact the superior African. indigenous as to the itself saw that community exclusive ethno-cultural an “middlemen,” Empire forming of British as and the interests the to Africa serving came they that stereotype pervasive by haunted have the been they era, colonial the ing dur arrival their machinery. Since colonial unprecedented British numbers under the in Africa, continent, East and South most visibly in African to the inhabit came Asians However, that or foot either it set in ever Africa. true India is before Europeans the that is truth the whereas rule, colonial British during of Asian to tends the rely too much on construction or the victims villains Siddiqi Vassanjilike and challenging. are writers which and to them insistently cling that stereotypes the orderin to understand Africa East in Asians South of history the trace briefly Iwill section following the In one crime commit” (17). could biggest at the one been had, time, Indian being Africa, East in my in country And, Africa. East in village asmall in girl, African an as raised Iwas by race. a resident only Indian “I of muses: am Great Britain, In Siddiqui’s filiation. and second noveltity 1985) iden their regards acomplex as in ontological puzzle immersed have been Amin´s from Idi sion(Bhachu, of 1972. Asians migrants” in Uganda These “twice expul the forced thesurrounding about experience upheaval from first-hand writes origin. of Indian aUgandan is these people, we couldnolongersaythatwe were ArabiansorIndians orPersians; whenwe compared ourselves with to thelands,withwhichwe traded–Arabia,India, Persia. These were alsothelandsofour ancestors.But people; we looked east separatedusfromwas atourback.Many theup-country ordesert milesofscrub 6 5 trade Ocean role have of context played the Indian akey in Asians South place? first the in Africa East in roots lay down community Asian How an did appropriatesheas herself discussion in my particularly theory I find Brah’s 208) (Brah tradition. and of purity name the in disclaimed be may forms syncretic these while even mingle imperceptively transgressive the and accepted the where and interrogate, prohibited the perpetually and permitted the where or disavowed; proclaimed contested, juxtaposed, are positions subject “

In theintroduction toherstudyBrah arguesthatherown personal life “hasbeenmarked Africa wasmyhome,hadbeenthehomeoffamilyforcenturies. But we camefrom we feltlikepeopleofAfrica

” (Naipaul, 2002:12; emphasismine). 5 Like Jameela Siddiqi and Peter Nazareth, Brah Brah Siddiqi Jameela Peter and Like Nazareth, East Africa was the focus of Indian trade much much trade of Indian focus the was Africa East The one-dimensional view of Asians as either as either Asians view of The one-dimensional 6 people of South Asian origin like him are are him like origin people of Asian South Bombay Gardens A Bend in the River in the A Bend (2006) Baby, now (2006) (1979) that states South South - - - - Gardens The Gunny Sack in both expanded, steadily artisans and staff skilled as activities their since ment services (GS 37). British” under the people doing well are one conductor Our of ours. also is every and Indian, an is stationmaster every Indians, by built our was line The settlement. Indian stops an is there train the interior, the in lake everywhere way to the and the from Mombasa all goes railway of Vassanji´spatriarch (Lepper, labour 1915; cheap as Tinker, 1977; of Empire the to serve other parts and to Africa Indians unsuspecting about luring of “America akind of Hindu”as power, the colonial by the no who qualms had envisaged was Africa East India. in did of work they as type forthere same the earned be could that earnings higher the lay in Africa to East to migrate labourers the for The attraction workers for were service. recruited Indian 32,000 period 1901, 1897 on in till carried Punjab and started from the of labour which during practices. administrative systems, currency and postal police, laws, Indian Railway: Uganda the along were transplanted Raj ofstitutions British the pioneers Zanzibar. in merchants real were the old established although era, colonial of British the years early the during marked particularly into interior the became activity trading extension Indian of This coast. Swahili interior the the along in and stations at various its staff employed administrative and workers police and Indian Indian Company recruited Africa East British region.Imperial The the throughout its sphere and ofbut influence not Zanzibar just in settlements, of Indian permanent growth the of with network commerce soon avast spread out to command Indians traders seasonal as fashion in a modest began they Although services. financial and banking provided main the they Said Seyyid of Sultan sultanate the during that extentthe to theisland life of financial and role commercial the in important ingly increas an to acquire began merchants Indian association. of Indian character in achange and Africa East with connection commercial of Indian the revival strong 19 early the in to of Zanzibar Muscat of Imams the return the and developednew andinfluence forms to suffer. However,activity began Indian Africa East with economic links Indian Ocean, monopoly trade Indian their the in not did into hinterland. penetrate the they because contact to coastal limited it was though even role area, played the akey in clearly Indians 16 1960; 1993 Desai, Hollingsworth, 1998). &Hall, of the Up beginning to the Mombasa (see and Mozambique, in Kilwa merchants encounteredand Indian th century, the Indian presence on the East African seaboard was substantial. substantial. was seaboard African on presence East the Indian century, the BG; 7 employment governto middle-grade rolenotin was restricted Indian Theonly of in them, the Together “coolies,” because railway the partly with and established Company India East British later the and Portuguese the After

Henceforth thefollowing abbreviations willbeusedforthenovels discussedinthisarticle: In aBrown Mantle GS; The In-Between World of Vikram Lall The Gunny Sack Gunny The BM; The General isUp (1989), GU; VL; Elder, 1992). Dhanji Govindji, the the 1992).Elder, Govindji, Dhanji Day After TomorrowDay 7 tells his daughter-in-law: “The “The daughter-in-law: his tells The Feast oftheNine Virgins th century marked a marked century D. DT. Recruitment Recruitment FV; Bombay Bombay - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 17 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 18 of Asians as exploiters and colonial stooges, willing to carry out the dirty work of out dirty the to carry willing stooges, exploiters colonial as and of Asians coastal areas. the then, in done had up they till as remain, than rather were now inland moving of 20 the beginning at the Convergence territory on to colonial move inland. Indians ered the “Open Policy” Hinterland up empow the labour.indentured 1890 In so-called the as especially Africa into East immigration Indian 1883 encouraged Act Emigration Empire. British The the Amendmentthe within settlement to 1886 and restriction of freedom movement 1883 the in Indians without granted enshrined be which Act era. post-colonial the in relations African-Indian nowould in way favour future which to flourish, encouraged was of races way ahierarchy this In activities. Indian and were to developing European response that in towns to supply the and in labour cheap system agricultural to work European the were in encouraged Africans while to Indians t Thus towns. the in and trade in especially nies, colo African economic dominant position East the in Indians’ the guaranteed which pioneering the spirit to praise of Indian: of for the colonies, appeared state the secretary under time at the Winston works, Churchill, one known In lesser of his Africa. of East of 20 the decades two first thebut Coast, the to Swahili confined been had Africa East in presence Indian behind. to chose remain thousand thirty-two original only 6,724 that of despite the fact the Africans, by many believed widely is that myth of “coolies” the descendants the mostly are Africa East population in ashort-termfact phenomenon, present the Asian that myth to the but rise gave which in was railway Kenya-Ugandathe indentured workers to of build 32,000 influx single lawyers. doctors and included people, professional educated as such also century twentieth the of turn the at Africa East to who emigrated workers.Indians The Indian for skilled demands the stores increasing spread, retail and workshops, garages concentrations of activity. major European-owned commercial became Africa East British in other places Nairobi and monopoly. settlers, Indian of European an arrival With the virtually became cotton business the fact in and to India mainly exported was which cotton, crop was export principal the private employment Uganda In business. in and the Europeans, which is really how Winston Churchill saw them. saw how Winston Churchill really is which Europeans, the The movement of Asians around the British East African territories would African East the aroundBritish The movementAsians of practices andfarming landholding on restrictions imposed legal The British [...] available yet 34) capital (Churchill of the part larger the supplies who banker Indian It the is constructed. was depends else everything on which railway one vital the that labour by Indian It was of communications. slender means first up the opened and of trade beginnings early the developed else anyone more than has aliving, earn could man no white which or go in would man no white to which of places sorts all in himself maintained and who, penetrated trader Indian the is It countries. African East these of pacification and conquest the in honourable part bore who an soldier (and Muslim) Punjabi Sikh the It was th Century meant contestation over African space especially since Indians Indians since especially space contestation over meant African Century

In a sense, these laws would instigate the consolidation of consolidation vision the the would instigate laws these asense, In th century witnessed a rapid growth of the Indian role interior the in of Indian the arapid growth witnessed century rade and craftmanship were relegated were relegated craftmanship and rade Thus for at least a millenium the the millenium a forThus at least

(Desai 120), a a 120), (Desai The largest Thelargest - - Asians´ singleminded work ethic, out of touch with the raw sensuousness of African out of African work sensuousness raw of the touch ethic, singleminded with Asians´ 1972. in from Uganda Tejani of explusion ofupheaval the the of Asians the critical is 129). (Elder nity Both commu of Indian the values and of lifestyle detriment at the the cultures of African context. African East the in of Asianness masculinization the and presence Vassanji’sfound in into absorbed womb ablack [...]” gradually was Ronald and comforting (GU 21). around felt all darkness The hand-in-hand. home, way back the walking all talk ...and thought. some made he Ronald woman, Thesmall- woman aDamibian like women:nothing was “There role to the relegated of African sensuous featured are women few the who with exclusively male-centred Nazareth´s work almost being texts, Nazareth’s in hypocrisy utmost the as disclosed is integrity greater theirmoral of because communities Asian theabove other self-classification the with to lumped together be refused fact in and other Indians and novels, of his both in society Ugandan– –read Damibian from alienation and singularity on their focussing positionbiguous of Goans, the 1995: (Nazareth, 68-9). calculating remote, almost distant, is Africa no choice a loner, is but to abandon. Naipaul’s character whose with relationship independent have newly a outforeigner the in him as nation, hesingle will which eventually will Indianness His him. behind community and family extended an but without support of the of exploitative the dukawallah up stereotype tolives the fact, he, in Africans, and however, Africa with one. isolated interacts He an barely river. is, experience interior upthe His set a shop and unnamed bend at ofthe an Salim, The protagonist, of Mobuto regime under the Seko. Sese to Zaire country, similar unnamed of an chaos post-colonial to the be he what sees with novel his deals fact in as Africa East in experience Asian the paul’s not may work. Naipaul’s specifically have been focus Tomorrow After novel first Naipaul’s The General is Up General The Bahudur Tejani´sBahudur be can of which echoes of Africa, later feminization to the return I will invisible, virtually are narratives Asian African Women East early these in problem. (GU Goan not women 18) the have did who to hunt outhad Damibian the men honest that was Theresult anti-sensual. and straightlaced and respectable be to expected were girls Their Victorian. were very Goans aThe woman... himself find and bars one Damibian of the towards steps his to retrace [D’Mello] decided Ronald am the describes vividly Peter ancestry, Nazareth of Goanese A Ugandan V.S. is Asian African One novels of early, East about the known an better A Bend in the River in the A Bend In a Brown Mantle In aBrown FROM RAILWAY COOLIE TO FENCE-SITTER FROM COOLIE RAILWAY (1971), of Nai success literary the neither have of achieved which The Gunny Sack Gunny The 3. NARRATING IN-BETWEENNESS: IN-BETWEENNESS: 3. NARRATING In a Brown Mantle In a Brown (1991). The leaves his family and coastal surroundings to venture into surroundings coastal and family his leaves Day After Tomorrow After Day (1979) Peter Nazareth’s after published years seven (1972) Tejani’s Bahadur after years eight and , tell-tale signs of the erasure of the female Asian Asian of female the of erasure the signs , tell-tale Wagoa

and and regarded themselves as acut above the as themselves regarded goes even further in his romanticising romanticising his in further even goes Day After Tomorrow After Day In a Brown Mantle In aBrown

eerily forecast the the forecast eerily Wahindi (1972) . Their . Their Day Day - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 19 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 20 Sack novel, Nazareth’s in occurs curiously which in highlighted is their in belief ethnocentric their axiomatic as accept and ambivalence with culture upon European them 293). (van to denled look Berghe heritage cultural theirintense Their in pride superiority over Africans of cultural assumption Asians’ by the of course, as, well as minority, of dominant the racism by the exacerbated further was masses privileged antipathyunderthe inevitable of almost The societies. orof white settler colonial dynamics racist the in were caught they because case extreme an constituted Asians Seidenberg writes: April Dana historian respect this over from generation to passed generation.” and are, traditions In all like learned is that tradition [they] of perspective racialist have become akind a historicised through “seen contextually that He British. sentiments from argues the anti-Asian inherited Africa East peoples in African indigenous that (82) suggested Makokha has present” from the (111). eliminated of being process the in J.K.S. scholar Kenyan he is distorted, past His exploited Africans. innocent cheated and who ceaselessly “ that his wrote in Naipaul Shiva writing. African much in East trayals Siddiqi´s of Jameela typical relationships “mixed” work. regards as hypocrisy the of Lall World Vikram The In-Between of Njoroje incomprehension lovein and the and Deepa affair surrounding Vassanji´s tone the with of novels stigma publishedsharply ageneration later, social the as such Curiously, inherent Tejani´s in optimism the contrasts marriages novel mixed vis-á-vis shop. vocation: the son real away from his his drag suspicious will of education that any of Samsher´s dukawallah, portrayal quintessential -the father aheartless He paints life. Kulsum narrates to her sons her theory of to her creation, sons her theory narrates Kulsum nowadays, the Asian is portrayed as little more than a miserly dukawallah dukawallah amiserly more little than as portrayed is Asian the nowadays, at just the right time. It came out golden brown, the Asian, simply perfect. (GS 89) simply perfect. out Asian, golden brown, the It came time. right the at just it brought oven, out and the inside doll last put the Only One and the Finally race. the black Thus black. out and he it burnt for long. kept too It in time came but this oven, into the doll second put the Almighty the learnt, lesson this With race. white the born was way this undone. In out and it white brought out it soon: too came but alas, it, finish theinto oven to doll He first put the dolls. identical three [God] fashioned African of category “middlemen”thegeneral groups, East within even Thus, (188) country. African [postcolonial] apredominantly in successful to become began Asians as sentiments anti-Asian to express began others and elites African state. colonial by the implanted by biases exacerbated these xenophobictheir attitudes, were dependent on it, Africans to support programme no economic and cultures, diverse of state ecumenical an to define place in framework ideological no strong society. With of colonial foundations into the deep ... ran which of society coding colour- of asystematic acontinuation was resentment anti-Asian withstanding, not Africa East everywhere, almost occurs xenophobia that natural from Apart the particular in Asians, cultural The Gunny Sack Gunny The superiority over Africans. This notion of cultural superiority notion This cultural of superiority over Africans. dukawallah in an anecdote told to Salim by his mother and mother and by his told anecdote to Salim an in and the down-to-earth humour which reveals reveals humour which down-to-earth the and The General is Up General The , have earned rather unflattering por unflattering rather , have earned (1991). In North ofNorth South The Gunny Gunny The - - -

the European colonial purveyors of negative myths about the East African Asians, Asians, African about East the myths of negative purveyors colonial European the For overdeterminationwere power of encountered, the and stereotypes. is such tingly– constructed for themselves. unwit–possiblyhave Asians that theimage on finger puts his Bharati, hananda Age anthropologist, Hindu monk and Austrian-born them. with dealings their in bureaucrats and settlers European the as unscrupulous as almost were sometimes respect spheres. this In main three these in malpractice for general and privileges their for them abusing against levelled “advancement” 279). (van den Berghe were often way of the African in Allegations visible stumbling-block aconvenient ahighly for and both scapegoat Africans, the and Europeans the mobility. on that groupbetween become would a They buffer ceiling a also butmobility pigmentation.upward experienced on They skin based system caste of type in a new themselves found Asians enterprise. The commercial or army the namely, service, sectors, tended to civil belong the to one main of three Africa East in immigrants Indian Africa. East in status economic social in and rise many, and India groups not in majority, if low the status asubstantial experienced and from destitute came Many immigrants. free of skilled descendants are Asians later on. for quest to the Africanness returning be I will of novel. backbone the the forms what is link lost African the and liaison early This Indian. aZanzibari marries and (GS 14) mistress his abandons Govindi are there And Africa. in slaves black “our golis, keeping that sons to are India back gets Bibi Taratibu. word When African, an with achild has and with lives Govindi Vassanji’s Dhovinji Africans, with entered marriages into legal Asians South not many that it true is While Africans. with not did intermarry they that was Milton Obote 1971, in coup against the after of Uganda man strong the Amin, by Idipride its endogamy. in hurled Asians at the One of major the grievances racial and intense cultural Kulsum´s an and heights reveals narrative mythical toAsian the of essence interstitial theliminal, raises Thestory of Asian. the in-betweenness the underscores text butthe more is what perhaps important, not are quite “right” Europeans and Africans that is One humourous reading two obvious readings. (GU us?” has like 40). right, just creation myth This youyou he out for did not long? so of oven take Why the when you were done cook God did “Hey Why slave! Africans, native the abuse and drunk get Amin, In Nazareth´s novel Arab troops brought in by a thinly disguised Idi disguised brought troops by Nazareth´s athinly in In novel Arab In this scheme of things, Asians were always well-known even before they before even they well-known were always Asians scheme of things, this In 1972: 170) (Bharati, matters. social nor in business in not trustworthy are fold, they their within trade monopolize they clannish, are they people’s other wealth; courage anden luxuries afford could they though do not money even spend they because neighbours of their standards living lower the they thrifty, obnoxiously are they dirty, are houses their cowards, are they business, in cheat they arrogant, are they others, with do not mix and other to each stick they mistrustful, sneaky, are Asians African majority of East belief, vast the to popular above, contrary stated As children , half-castes littering the coast from Mozambique to Karachi” from Mozambique to Karachi” coast the littering , half-castes the Indian merchants with whom Africans dealt dealt whom with Africans merchants Indian the - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 21 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 22 rial history has failed to do justice to the intricacies of the tripartite social situation social of tripartite the intricacies to to the do justice failed has history rial envy.and plain impe consequences theof fear, hostility Traditional would suffer post-independence the in themselves that despite they era fact the themselves, British the as structure of colonial the much colonies were apart as African East Hear). of van Britain’s (Bhachu; Indians The Canada and India to Britain, migrated Asians 1972 Uganda in of expropriated. these Many expelled possessions their and most notoriously, were and, unceremoniously Tanzania, where Asians the Uganda, matei 75). (Si Africanization of to avoid effects adverse citizens the citizens,’ only becoming ‘paper and opportunists as Asians the to see Africans to led aclose many drew grace periodthe of as rush persecution. general or The eventof property of confiscation of protection the kind to in any right up the to giving up would tantamount be to this give that fear from the arose citizenship or British Indian decision to retain The Asians. the among of insecurity contributed feeling to Zanzibar, ageneral in epithet“fence-sitters.” of unflattering the them hesitation earned much the choice publicised and crucial on that would hinge community Asian the of future his/her The pre-independence entire status. time or retain aspecified within on independence option or have automatically the could to citizen become one local generous become a made provisions –aperson could nation states for citizenship African East new of the Independence them. in constitutions ahead future a clear to seemed have farmers Indian large-scale few very the and top the Only industrialists clientele. from boycott former African increasing by the and cooperatives by African were slowly crowded they being out Asians, exclusively by Gujerati-speaking almost werefelt the by economicand difficulties Strong apprehensions activism. of post-independenceshy away from political social tended to and Africa East in future to have much economic social ofappear and an did not settlers generations The isolated. younger Indian of but were politically Africa race. with closely independence of them. against affiliation political African of Indian/ fear and land best for the greed from European primarily resulting discrimination with faced itself found population Indian Kenyan the comfort, social and economic comparable but position of segregated this Before reaching base. at the communities African and of Arab the top that at the and community position the of European the between power, of privilege, prestige scale somewhere and the in stabilized, well become fairly settlers. white favoured which arrangements political existent the away of mostly perpetuating was this joined toform Tanzania in1964. followed by Uganda in1962,Kenya andZanzibar in1963 andMalawi in 1964. Tanganyika andZanzibar 8 1964 the in revolution region, culminated the in which Political turbulence By 1939 of had Kenya Government the society in and place Indians’ the

The first of Britain Africanization policies were carried out in countries like Kenya, Malawi, Malawi, Kenya, like out countries in were policies carried Africanization 8 Indians occupied a predominant position in the economic life of East of position apredominant occupied economic East the life in Indians brought with it a restrictive sense of nationalism linked rather too too rather linked of nationalism sense it brought with arestrictive ’ s EastAfricancoloniesto achieve independencewas Tanganyika in1961, duka owners all over East Africa. Owned Owned Africa. over East all owners T he arrival - - 1942 (2007:243-245)andseeHand (2011). presumed complicitywiththecolonialgovernment andwasinfactmurdered by twoIndian workers in of southern other self-government parts in to achieve aspiration as European any that had meant This disabilities. condoned existing and whites continuation the of all 1993). (Jain, of Africans eyes the in respect and legitimacy of political degree significant any them therefore not did and earn nationalism African with identify to fully Indians position not did allow which class privileged Asians’ the was cans Afri block the to more Thestumbling with relations fluid unionism. trade African 1936, in Trade founder the Labour of the Union was Africa who of organised East Singh, andKenya)Makhan in nationalism African Thuku father of (the for Harry editor the of Desai, M.A. Indians. against defended he Africans had alawyer as that argues Okelofriend and childhood his as Ugandan to as be He considers himself Africans.” black Africans, “Africa for is that stated which policy Africanization the 1972 to accept refuses and government bitterly in of meted treatment out Ugandan by the the complains to him (1952-1960). emergency the during 1952-3 in trial of Jomo defense Kapenguria at the the in Kenyatta who participated lawyers government Indian four problems the and imperial before the sent Kikuyu leader, 1929in emerging an to then London Jomo to pre accompanied Kenyatta, Isher Dass, notable as such with exceptions lukewarm, to excessively be seen 2003). exploiter of black the (Kahyana, status doubt citizen to any the as casts no of logic, one adoption. to no plunder right this country Following who has his aforeigner, he perceived as is but because astranger mostly Africa, ofprogress East the he questioned sabotaging is is not just because exploiter male– –invariably Asian of the status citizen the credentials, historical these community. Notwithstanding of the belongingness and genealogy proves long-lasting the Africa foot set in British before even the Zanzibar in Asians of African present-day ofence ancestors the East “[w]here (GS for centuries” Zanzibar, traded 11).in and lived had Indians The pres life precisely his new begin patriarch his that coolie.” has ItVassanji significant is of “myth railway to the the challenge adirect site poses that apowerful as features 169). 29; Salat (Hollingsworth Zanzibar in trade the slave involvement of side Indian financing to the a sinister it,the is in namely there that on principle and the based of self-gain was diaspora Indian the that said (2005: into 5). modernity” to be become drawn has has It also Africa East which in for complicated ways the a scapegoat as acted periods, post-colonial and colonial the throughout has, diaspora puts it, “the Ojwang Asian Dan scholar Kenyan based African South As purposes. political own for their themselves masters colonial the promoted of races, by hierarchy elaborate an colonies by oversimplifying these in 9 with equality of racial Declaration TheDevonshire Indians 1923denied had was nationalism African in mentioned participation As earlier, Indian the it and Zanzibar was Africa East in areas settlement Asian One of early the

In Neera Kapur-Dromson’s memoir, East African Chronicle African East

Jay in Mira Nair`sJay Mira in film From Jhelumto Tana , helped to print articles in Swahili Swahili in , helped to print articles , Isher Dass isremembered forhis Mississippi Masala (1991) (1991) 9 who who - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 23 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 24 displacement ofdomainsdifference in theactofdefiningideasocietyitself...It isintheemergenceofinterstices or communal it his in calls Rushdie Salman as stools, two between or middle falling the in lodged uncomfortably Indians the with the andEuropeans Africans zone the would for become abuffer space “in-between” This themselves. for space Indian out defined aclearly intopropelled them carving this and were Other black the white and peoples. Both colonized were themselves they elite as white ruling the too with other, closely the not could identify they on while labourer African from the themselves to needed distance onethey hand, from novel,taken first Eliot’s T.S. of title Nazareth´s – the credentials cultural their to contendhad establishing with were forced into a shady, brown? borderland they zoneBrown Africans from which situate the where that does case not which white, in being was African Being ness. opposed to white as and blackness with equated being notionthe of Africanness was communities– diasporic by many extension –and were to face Asians African orderone in aplace to to need in live belong?” East One of major that the hurdles oftions indigeneity. The question “how“whobelongs?” follows from on long does monolithic interpreta for challenging and of forms new commonality establishing for arenas also are converge andinteract. They cultures where different grounds 276). (VL Asians” were order the racism against of reverse day the and chauvinism colonizers...Black the of brown exclusive with race “Shylocks” collaborated whoan had recent of memory from ageneralized ... stigma the ...carrying country African an in “H them: against would act situation of Asians the on how, reflects Vassanji’sIn a Lall novel, Vikam isolation. position general and political weak merely their exclusiveness, reinforced propensity social to theIndian with together Africa, East entrenchedin tion firmly stratifica (Park 352). period theracial this actors, political significant Despite these during Africa in interests opposed to Indian– –as order in toIndia promote African over all lectured and paramountcy for African ardent campaigner an He was rule. proved that one the exceptions of many was politician, the liberal Indian the Sastri, told be however, truth the root. If V.S. from taking Srinivasa of solidarity subaltern order in to prevent kind any exploiters as of Africans of Asians ofgation stereotypes hostility, and propa no doubt by Europeans’ encouraged distrust growing with Asians the viewed terms general in Africans The fashion. hierarchical arigid in constructed be would clearly Africa East in society colonial that and would frustrated, be Africa Gliding wraptinabrown mantle” (quoted together/ But whenIlookaheadupthewhiteroad /There isalwaysanotheronewalkingbeside you/ community interest, orculturalvalues are negotiated” (Bhabha 1-2). 11 10 spaces termed “in-between” Homi has Bhabha What

“These ‘in-beween’“These spacesprovide theterrainforelaborating strategiesofselfhood “Who isthethird whowalks alwaysbesideyou?/When“Who Icount,there are onlyyou andI – that initiate new signs of identity,that initiate new and innovative sites of collaboration, and contestation, – that theintersubjective andcollective experiencesofnationness, Imaginary Communities The The Land Waste BM , p. viii). fter independence, the comfortable comfortable the independence, fter ere I was, a young Asian graduate graduate Asian ayoung ere I was, , exemplifies this perfectly. this , exemplifies (15) subsequent In years 10 are the meeting meeting the are – the overlap and – singular singular 11 On On - - - - essentialist identities [...]” (149). given are communities imagined which through manoeuvres ideological those disturb conceptual– and actual –both boundaries its totalizing erase evoke and proposed “Counter-narratives by continually sense Bhabha: of nation that the the in for acounter is narrative project but called overarching is what an is His Gujerati Punjabi and Hindus. as well as Goans but novels feature his Muslims, community, on modelled Ismaili Shamshi the sister). on he what calls He focuses Lall’s Vikram (Deepa, to of title apharmacist the sack owner of gunny the the of Secrets Book ubiquitous from the shopkeeper range (for Pipa example characters in His motivations. and positionings political situations, of characters, complexity awhole by revealing Africa East in settler of Indian the image stereotypical the andSecond, deconstruct to subvert any,seeks if tle, Vassanji significance. frontiers lit had national period, colonial the during before and of course, as, any to country one confined He by settlement. is no means of Asian areas large first, his particular in and subcontinent. works, of his Many Indian the in roots cultural with Africans of East genealogies and genesis the narrate objective. they First, Vassanji’s so atwo-stranded pasts– novels undertake Indo-African map and stereotypes but it histories rather atwofoldof enterprise is recording –challenge Africa: East in community Asian the 1991 given in interview an Vassanji about one stated motives for of writing his ting most recent novel to his to date, through novel first from his ranging Africa, East in communities contributed work of Asian His the enormously has visibility to the Canada. United now the in and in resides States studied Salaam, es Dar up in he grew of hybridity.example descent, Nairobi of of in Born Gujerati parents Indian work to the found be in of are M.G. Vassanji, aliving Africa himself East in possibly respect. this on in them pressure the considerably eased have class middle of African the growth parallel the numbers and reduced their his short story collections, collections, short story his Despite the pioneering efforts of Tejani and Nazareth, among others,Despite of pioneering the efforts and Nazareth, Tejani In the case of the East African Asians, the task ahead is not is merely that ahead task the Asians, African of East the case the In 19) (Nasta recorded. not have been lives our that see you can recorded is West the on in everything where goes what it with compare you just if and changing, it’s that’s about; you constantly read that something not something fromcome but they it’swherethem telling history kind of oral vague is a There [...] Africa don’t East people in from. come [...] of have they where sense, a historical The Gunny Sack Gunny The the most complex literary constructions of the South Asian diaspora diaspora Asian of South the constructions most complexthe literary ) to high-ranking political advisers (Vikram Lall), from Ji Lall), Bai, (Vikram advisers political ) to high-ranking , embrace whole sectors of the Asian communities and communities whole, embrace of Asian sectors the Uhuru Street The Magic of Saida Saida of Magic The (1992) and The Gunny Sack Gunny The Elvis, Raja Elvis, (2013) not forget (2005) (1989) (1989) . The The In In - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 25 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 26 Society andtheArts event calledthe“Samosa”cultural FestivalAsian-African (whichisanacronym for abroad, countamongitsreadership. Its multiculturalcredentials are proved by itssponsorshipofan reaches outbeyond theAsiancommunityasKenyans ofallethnicbackgrounds, aswell aspeopleliving current informationontheSouth AsiancommunityinEastAfrica,andKenya inparticular. magazine writing. his in Vassanji that complexity deconstructs and 289). ambiguity It this is (van den Berghe demands” African towards ambivalence and fear of “increasing late 1950s in one of change pace was of independence accelerating and war Kenya the to reaction The weredominant reformist. counterparts Africa its East while movement radical a was Congress Indian African it.South The with grudgingly, however government colonial from by the concessions collaborating, of extracting followed leadership, apolicy despite white opposing settlers, the Asian but generally for 1960 (for Freedom the Kenya the demands example Party elections), African with identified leaders Indian Some radical Africa. South in than sectarian and more conservative was Africa East in politics Asian but mainstream rule minority to oppression. 1890s Since resistance have opposed white they of organized history have alonger Asians African South Politically Africans. South English-speaking ing becom are Asians Gujerati Punjabi African considerable, South and as is such while have crept into that languages number wordsof the from Swahili loan Mombasa and and Salaam es Dar Zanzibar, as such areas island and on coastal especially Swahili speak Asians African groups. East promoted of country’s ethnic the separation the pronounced, less been due, obviously, which has regime community apartheid to the of of aprocess –one speak indeed could Europeanized as well as become Africanized have and culture Indian from extent traditional to acertain have departed Asians African East though even Africans, the with them to ingratiate little did selves 7).2005: (Ojwang, increased” conflicts social would later come as to rue arole they Africa, East in of modern capitalism handmaidens the became Indians or unwittingly, the “Wittingly exploitative system: for took colonial blame an and the middlemen, as to act were manipulated themselves Asians or Tanzanian. Ugandan afellow Kenyan, as Asian the to view reluctance African part, in explain, may which Asians, the against attitudes manipulated Europeans the which in society of colonial economic and context outsocial of political, largely the arose of Asians the views and Vassanji´s pioneer nation-builder and of are forgotten Asian the present perspective from the acknowledged. of muchthecapital. circles andcontinuetoreside inthemore affluentsuburbsofNairobi, farfrom thepoverty andsqualor more committedthantheAsiancommunityasawhole,who remain thebackbone ofKenyan´s business of Kenya. However, itmustbesaidthattheeditorsandcontributorsto hybridization 12 them of Asians way of the life and customs social the that true It also is being is recently only contribution Asian theindependence to struggle The Awaaz

The Gunny Sack Sack Gunny The The increasing visibilityofAsianAfricanscanbeverified by thecontinuingsuccessof . The magazineisprincipallyconcernedwiththedissemination ofbothhistoricaland 12 ) and which aims to participate more) andwhichaimstoparticipate fullyin themainstream socialandculturallife unlike in South Africa where the African influence on the Indian theIndian influence on where African the Africa South in unlike Two novels that rewrite the histories of East Africa from 1885 Two Africa to the of East histories the rewrite novels that See http://awaazmagazine.com/ and and The In-between of Lall World Vikram The In-between . Awaaz maybemore radicaland . African attitudes South Asian MosaicSouth Asian of Awaaz - - voices by uncovering what patriarchy usually absorbs” (de Mel usually 169). patriarchy what voices by uncovering By large and Vassanji history. Neloufer that Indeed, personal de Mel “centres states marginal momentoes own up his build and extract will Salim from which of title the sack of gunny source the the being Jiof communities, Bai women respective on their novel this in as Asians African 280). (van den Berghe kaleidoscope” Indian impoverished) of great the microcosm modified often (and a culturally fact, in is, ‘community’ “the Asian that claims and groups” mistrustful mutually and endogamous of little diversity a“bewildering them and of solidarity, lines i.e. religion, language pre-existing along existence ghetto their organized Asians caste, prejudice. Treated apariah as of power racial of distortion of the immense the result the actually is which tence, omnipo occult and impression economic omnipresence, the of affluence physical created unwittingly has socially and economically, geographically, in culturally Paradoxically, agroup such hemmed sectarianism. and endogamy of dress, style and exotic culture ghettoization, enforced distinctiveness, physical wealth, relative of urbanization, degree high by their 279).Berghe characterized are Altogether, they (van visible den minority ahighly time but occupations same at the low-skilled in them replaced once Africans on immigration of limitations severe because part in minority, a small have remained They occupations. industrial and clerical service, mercantile, concentrated in are they and centres, urban in of people80-90% living group with urban ahighly are (GS 178).Memon, Asians Ithnashri” African East Hindu, Sikh, “everyone Ismaili, “Asian”, saw else Bohra, Shamsi, saw Asians the where because fissures to despite unite internal their was Africa East post-colonial in of survival only means the that to realise came communities Asian consciousness. group and for solidarity basis the forms of rejection, prejudice scapegoating and experience shared the and 277) (van den Berghe society larger outside the in forces aproduct is of community of the minorities So middlemen. pariah i.e. scapegoated, “natives;” the and played role the masters they colonial of the “Jews,” between status of intermediate caste were aracial they times colonial a community–in are Asians Urdu, Hindi, Gujerati, Tamil Telegu. and African Yet East which in asense is there speak They Protestants. and Catholics Roman Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, Shia and Sunni include groups.Hindus, They caste and into linguistic amultiplicity of religious, 1965:(Bharati, fragmented are they 15).as a are not“community” really Asians The constituent groups” would which holdall minority its theabout for significance of sociological nothing “there virtually is that claims Bharati Agehananda Africa, East in of Asians survey social his In visitors from India. or temporary to guests to applied be “Indian” seems while origin, ordomiciled people Pakistani of Indian or Pakistanis. notans” Indians In East Africa people of South Asian descent tend to be referred to as “Asi tend descent to to referred as be people of Asian South Africa East In The Gunny Sack Gunny The 4. BEYOND THE RESTRICTIVE RESTRICTIVE 4. BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF KHANDAANITY BOUNDS (1989) can stake a claim as the founding narrative of East of East narrative founding (1989) the as aclaim stake can Vassanji appears to acknowledge the strong influence influence strong the Vassanji to acknowledge appears “Asian” has become an East African synonym for all for all synonym African “Asian” East become an has jati . Van den Berghe calls . Van calls den Berghe

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REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 27 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 28 resigned and wistful. Africa has swallowed him up, Bai, taken him back into back her him up, taken him Bai, swallowed has Africa wistful. and resigned into identification drawn irretrievably been son of has loss who he his the feels laments father His wife. Indian father, his abandons now and appropriately heritage to an married African his with mother,affinity finds African an and father Indian son Huseni, the of an grandfather, (GS never perhaps return” and into 39). deeper [Africa] and deeper go could Salim’s “One of darkness, hearts of Conradian interior the in settlement smacks of Indian (GS 48). of himself” search forest in the who foreverbeing stalks opened its produced womb a and to India home. Africa his made Where and day [...] “Matamu oneambiguity: donkey his where town unloaded the my is forebear hybrid not relationship devoid afuture of one suggests and of womb the atelling is trope explorer-conquerorthe use of The seed. Indian– sow his can case, this –in the of erotic promise: full Africa, alluring enticing, to an alludes also which Africa, 45)2000: of Salim’s in Dhanji Govinji’sEast reconstruction encounter with first (Ojwang, submissive Africa” of afeminized, discourse patriarchal “imperialist, the century its people nineteenth evokes and landscape on Vassanji’s employed in African the to describe novel language the Early masculine. as European– coloniser –invariably the and feminine as territory development of conquered trope the unexpected of colonial the an is extract this in theIndian of masculinization The where he sentService. is National to do his trunk. his than standing under and more with meaning provide clearly Salim will which around– to carry container flexible and more practical far –a sack gunny the with vividly contrasts Toilet (GS afool” on 250-1). them my like head paper. Icarried Awoollen suit. And jellebis, chevdo. ladoos, with I came Instead a rucksack. bag, a small have come with it way. our in time comes every [...] and big our trunk, black with Ishould Africa the with indentification curious a even is at times, which, perspective, masculine from a very narrated is Africa East of parts various in Asians Thesettlement South of it backstage. relegates to the role female but obliterating the in which never quite which succeeds discourse, diaspora male interesting an butnovel look first aclose reveals true is at his this first settlers who –without the acknowledged accompaniment of anywrote women–of accompaniment thewho –withoutacknowledged settlers first womb [...]”the (GS of 39).courage the is to obliged overstate narrative male The This feminization of a mysterious, unfathomable Africa in the early days days early the in Africa unfathomable of a mysterious, feminization This where ground afertile as constructed is landscape Moreover, African the (GS for bearer. 11) its life your down to lay you, ready lead it to will wherever streets teeming the through halud of the trace you the follow you, “Come” and commanding movement lashes of the a with then and heart you to the chilling aveil, in slit the through eyes of two look ... mysterious the screens lattice behind giggles the veils, silky behind ments island the by on,enchanted stayed the rest frontiers; other sought andenterprising wise The resemblance almost phallic with its trunk the black of big, rigidity The ’ s [Zanzibar’s] perfume and musk and spice ... the soft rustling move rustling ... spice soft and the musk and perfume s [Zanzibar’s] This quotationUhuru This Salim’sto refers Camp initiation at with his African mother alone: “[Dhanji Govindji] African his was with European colonizer: “We Indians have barged into “We have barged colonizer: Indians European orientalist narratives. Dan Ojwang points to Ojwang Dan narratives. orientalist - - this similarity in her in autobiography similarity this suggests Yasmin Alibhai-Brown womanhood. for menace Indian sexual a similar who would represent it African would the be Africa East In male. Indian lascivious of the of threat the dread in lived group which caste-like aclose-knit became and women.themselves in closed on The white Indian British men and between wise– end put to any an of memsahibs the arrival when the century of nineteenth the beginning at the India in of British the attitude thechanging mind to calls situation This marriage. interethnic and network ethnic the reinforced of century the second decade women the during of Asian arrival the women. However, African with relationships long-standing men had Asian many frowned where together.on, women men and Despite officially migrated being Trinidad, and Mauritius plantation colonies, as such the women, unlike of Asian 13). one” from day (FV were arranged dowries elaborate method, a gruesome on her father´s to avoid and by such death blade of the aguillotine, like neck [...]possible [because] of drop [a every daughter´s] blood descended menstrual as early as off overprotectionto an of to married women be young who “had into role the of cast male African tion, the with of miscegena fear lurking constantly the is context Asian African East the in of is interest world.options the in of open What women to aminority anywhere outside homeworking the as this about Asian specifically nothing is there century of twentieth the half motherhood. first the and In open marriage to them: left was that only career groomed for it being theand of led to tradition girls worshipped altar at the government. colonial British Women´s by the instigated segregation was purity racial growing theunderscored by further was exclusivity 24).cultural (FV This izzat” “No of too big price is family aprice to payadmits, for conservation the baby. father-in-law defeated the dark-skinned extremely As of an birth mature of Mohanji´s marriage hurried followed pre by the favourite son, unexpectedly and courtship to born, needed be lightning hence the grandchildren preserved, behind double the standards to reveal is house-boy. daughter-in-lawinnocent Siddiqi´s by her course Of African purpose seduction of Mohanji´s easy the in Siddiqi of to this prove seems once truth the men. Jameela (or daughters by their African wives)that would led be astray for fear communities own their groups within Asian enclosure of various the excessive into an translated this context African ondependant East it. the In women’s purity,safeguard men’s heavily sexual being status honour social and (1897-1901),railway to control on and necessity continued the to based be the of fromUganda workersto India build influx alarge witnessed tury, which capital Nairobi” (GS thetheir inhomes new 76). making before finally infantrymen, and stationmasters railway,the artisans, shopkeepers compatriot to coolies, their development:urban “the pioneers [...] of wake the in out wilderness the in struck way for paved the future and territory of African pages on blank the names their During the years of indentured labour in East Africa, there was a scarcity a scarcity was there Africa, East in of labour indentured years the During cen twentieth the of turn thegender governing at relations The ideology – and even less following a professional career aprofessional following less even and No Place LikeNo Home Place khandaanity sexual relationships –official or other or –official relationships sexual potential ravisher. This led ravisher. potential This . Appearances had to be had . Appearances (1995), – were - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 29 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 30 as she now was in charge of running the household spend she the could her while time of running charge in she nowas was father her to unceremoniously returned daughter, widowed her of shoulders the onto household the of burden the Mohanji Mrs. 161). (FV nature” of human finer nuances many the of dissecting terms in sensitivity ofpresence men” 160) (FV and wisdom but greatest the who “seemed to possess the spoke in who rarely woman Mohanji, of Mrs. her “a portrait quiet unassuming through Siddiqi record straight the to attempts set diaspora. the in or expectations wife’s, about his known mother’s, hopes, fears, or daughters’ sisters’ experiences, is less even individual, an as about dukawallah the written been has little If wife. hard-working his stood there dukawallah, to, or next every behind, that reason to of celibacy, disapproval it stands social the and given to marriage importance enormous the Considering centres. urban the in activists political educated to the remote the in areas commodities providing humblethe but dukawallah dogged men’s concerned with totally almost have been exploits from narratives Diaspora undertaken. have been Africa East in women who settled of Asian the lifestyles the surrounding circumstances the to attempts reveal any that recently only relatively It is children. up the home the bringing and on centred responsibilities managing ever. as Women’s family by the circumscribed as cloistered and as tended to remain but mobility for women, lives geographical their and social and economic gain one and mother’s of his tailor he the feels Hadith, admirers, bin Edward with he attends women.At a festival African offered by possibilities sensuous the at and terrified fascinated both himself relationship, finds sexual race Nazareth “shameless” when African the inclinations own his to curb solicitousso wife’s daughter’s likely of less his his and was chastity, male, condoned.Asian even and understood The was woman of African the traction grounds but, as mentioned above, until a sizeable community of eligible young mentioned but, community grounds as asizeable above, until 161). (FV rituals” religious lengthy protracted, “various performing and weaving Marriages, of course, were arranged between families with similar back similar with families between were arranged of course, Marriages, worker, indentured an person or as afree involved as whether Emigration, me home. (GS 185) take would that my pocket in shilling silver hard the clutching hand my dukawallah while the all odours, the dust, flying the the heat, in senseless there stood as I absorbing inviting, enveloping, buibui, filmy through of women pressing curves warm soft face, my hot dusty fanning buibui black I bodies in, crowd pressed the dancing, my friend Iwatched as me, around me, Behind at the applicable were less to certainly purity men and of sexual Standards women. (1995: Victorian 57) middle-class like exactly wealth, and of purity symbols ornaments, women into porcelain of Asian transformation the encouraged failure Terror and green. and pink of contamination luminous like colours wore who anyone bright describe people and to denigrate used called be would liasions the black/Asian of children The ’ s novels have shown. Vassanji’s Salim, himself a descendant of a mixed of amixed s novels adescendant have shown. Vassanji’s himself Salim, ’ s firm belief in dignity actually turns out to be an excuse to pass pass to excuse an out be to turns actually dignity in belief s firm ’ d never been so close to, scent of soap, of perfume, of sweat, flaps of flaps of sweat, to, of soap, scent of close perfume, so been d never ’ s home. hold Her could daughter her up head high woman threw temptation in his way, temptation his in threw woman as chotaras , a word that we , aword that - - modesty and respect. Awal, the stepmother of Juma, the father of Salim, the narrator narrator the stepmother Awal, of the father Salim, of the respect. Juma, and modesty of limits the to observing when it came werewomen most vigilant the themselves the 58). case, the often is 2000: (Ojwang, As threat” external defended from the to vigorously be boundaries, racial and of ethnic markers [and] the out as stand Women blacks. the booty with “potential war were friendships as seen establishing not prohibited– openly –if from discouraged and community their within cocooned women were painstakingly Asian as lower and middle classes, the among contact any, if little, of shopkeepers’ Socially, was there wives. case the in of asale course the during brief exchanges and of middle-classes the case the in to servants, issued ders underestimated. and unrecorded have general, been, in Africa women East these in by suffered alienation and world, the in hardships the anywhere women migrants way to the asimilar In narrative. from the pen,the erased of help, pioneersthe asweep provided female with by comfort support the is, and of progress for cause fort the holding the dukawallah the of Thestereotype cities. the in middle-classes carefree from the poles apart were Africa women of more East the in remote Asian parts Likewise, out aliving. to of eke neighbours Her on goodwill mother relied the often respect. this in dard below stan Yasmin Alibhai-Brown’s significantly role breadwinners. was as father traditional their to fulfill were absent died, or whenever failed husbands families women provided economic the support Asian for Many their life-style. leisurely There this notable idleness. were,exceptions course, enforced to ofof their because who worked– precisely those acut above other womendered themselves –especially for them, consi everything who did by servants pampered Africa, women East in Asian middle-class constraints, spacial and social own defend their and justify can women the themselves that ingrained so of becomes gender ideology that an with accordance In nucleus aspirations. the of their privileged, morethe economically for women employment. paid had andparticular in themajority The for home was, community, more Asian the few prosperous members of Asian the against aimed were which policies implementation increasing the ofcolonies Africanization and 281). (FV but weight of gold” heavier with even future, uncertain about an worry with –heavy refugees laden heavily such witnessed had no history other homeless destitute, chapter in and dispossessed, supposedly women: “Although Asian departing hastily at the SiddiqiJameela fun gently pokes wore. they clothes the except anything were to not take they allowed some cases in andas gold finery bridal their with down weighed of country women the left 1972, in from Uganda (Seidenberg hundreds 99). of Asians expulsion the During arise need should the policy of insurance a kind her as jewellery, would serve which economic dependence on importance hence in-laws, the the tended to mean mother. Lall’s Marriage Vikram Sheila, is Africa East in husbands married to newly join from India their directly who came one girls young of these of portrayal A fictional surroundings. support of and familiar without comfort the land involved to anew, emigration also unknown women for these and marriage brides India were young in sought many Africa, East people in were available Contact between Asian women and indigenous Africans was limited to or limited was Africans women indigenous and Asian between Contact African independence the of former the East following Until years the is invariably male, by which by which male, invariably is experiences of many early early of many experiences attached to abride´sattached - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 31 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 32 who makes a success out of every project, however bizarre, that she sets her mind her mind she sets that project, out however of every bizarre, asuccess who makes graduate, white, former a script, and SOAS Sonia, film Urdu-speaking first his write to struggling parentage of mixed African East an Ash, between on friendship ers the cent epitomized Mohanji by the shopkeepingframe family. the Thesecond class, and herself between aline draws who carefully Muslim liberal theoretically a middle-class, The descent. Brat’s of people of of Asian South thousands is forcedmother emigration of the time eight-year-old the of Brat around an the to referred commonly as child, novel– the in “Pearl” –called Uganda in childhood the relates One of frames the at all. tragicomedy life andscript not a real afilm is we reading have what been that fantasy and reality frontier blurred the between Siddiqi successfully out so that it has turns lost-and-found Bollywood disaster,” senseless (319)into “a typical or do not, rather as converge finally the novelas which, progresses, frames time different four contains stories. unconnected to totally be, appear what narrate, her extent second,lesser encounters aHindu-Muslim elopement. and Siddiqi’s sexual race novel,anda first to mixed as daughter-in-law, well arebellious woman, as sexuality, of ambiguous achild woman. mure, obedient Asian South of de the completely image any has reversed Uganda, disguised athinly including behaviour: her on dukawallah good lecture shop orderthe in to out alone go her together. husband to new with He proceeds from off time to demand daughter-in-law new audacity when the his senses has his out shocked is of dukawallah, Mohanji, of stingy the Siddiqi’s Jameela caricature 2011:or (Hand, daughter-in-law immediately to crushed be had 108-110). Mr. or them not– in adaughter of in sign rebellion believed any they –whether values to” (GS family, however claim lays crooked, 83). every which that snobbish her home´sformto preserve of respectability efforts khandaanity: nail,’in constant a use her she slippingrail, keep would off your heads, pachedis of Brown inhermore recent memoir(2008)andsee Hand (forthcoming). The Gunny Sack Gunny The 13 multiple in set Siddiqi,Jameela locations are novels of which her both in two (FV 221)live. is That how we rules. anybody´sare our in of tea cup Those house. a more than take we never and for achat, just community, someone own of our on call then and house own our in dinner we eat people, decent Like kind. own We to our politics. stick and of poetry don´t big talk their with ourselves concern that´s and ours, it. We after ask they health, their We after ask groceries. buy their and theshop come to They them. with We do business only area. European the We in live who don´t feasts. Asians for virgins´ and snooty the with weddings mix they´re then for time, We at food invitations in to welcome join us. issue only We don´t we don´t and drop parties, they If people to to dinner dinner. go invite of traditional transmitters the and of culture women were guardians As the

The social importance offoodandcookingamongstAsiansisbrilliantlydescribedby Alibhai- The socialimportance , keeps her daughters-in-law perpetually on their toes: “’If your “’If toes: on their her, keeps daughters-in-law perpetually Bombay Gardens The Feast of the the of Nine Feast The Virgins , are made up of a series of vignettes which which up of of made vignettes aseries , are The Feast of the the of Nine Feast The Virgins features a divorced 13 - -

Salaam as he is a Hindu Punjabi and she a Cutchi Muslim. Vikram recognizes the the recognizes he Vikram aHindu Punjabi is she Muslim. aCutchi as and Salaam es of Dar community prejudice Asian the subject in He the of communal becomes 233). at us” (VL gether, looked students askance about even how other Indian the for definition. to things We spokeabout straining arelationship many was “Ours to venture out into forbidden willing is as territory Salaam, es Dar in stay his during befriends Vikram girl Yasmin, Muslim the other hand, On overnight. the adult woman into an turns she subdued is and On her return sweetheart. childhood Njoroge, her Kikuyu to marry away determined runs Deepa World of Vikram Lall for it others aprison.generation The becomes younger of womenin diaspora. of Indian the other parts on situation of the women conclusions have in bearing reaches that Ganguly Keya However, on her in discussion marriage. drudgery: to marital alternative an posits operated and that double her the Siddiqi standard moral through criticizes yet and character alikeable from being expulsion, she far is Asian the during bed do-gooder, whofound murderedis her in hypocritical interfering, hanji family. An school teacher, aboveMomaths position the snobbishly of far conscious her class role. starring choice the of in his actress aBollywood casts Sonia, producer-director, the whose only condition gentleman, that is noneAsian other than African East wealthy mysterious by a financed being is film This realities. alternative contains itself in which courtesan, same of very the on life the of adocu-drama ing film the concerns frame time most important, seemingly and, Finally, fourth the Ustad. Grand the musician, archi-famous an with besotted who becomes Tameezan courtesan, nineteenth-century theof a story is frame, to. smaller third, much The The family in a solid family propThe Vassanji’s may remain fiction for some women but women. (45) for the of renewal source and support cultural ‘traditional’ only the remains family the that to argue as far so go Iwould fact, In resistances. everyday and lives their inscribe that de-centering post-colonial and racism of effect and force the on women, it imposes is system family patriarchal the that constraints Despite the anotherlife outside for to opting hindance the is thefamily of sanctity The 59) (FV list. mistress-candidates good on the available herself made surely had out her husband, who, by kicking woman attractive exceptionally an was Henara For Mrs. them, wives. on their cheated regularly who those especially her too, men admired the And her freedom. envied secretly marriages, unhappy in women, trapped Other community. local the in alot of respect commanded Henara Mrs. reason, For this future. of the not afraid someone was who and gle sin of being not afraid someone was who special, you were someone very meant it out, then them to boot courage the found you But actually if to them. married go being to on wanted if you it That´saccepted and you just like, were men what basis. casual ona certainly then not officially, if mistresses, men had married All Brat’s the Henara, Seema is mother, characters a One of most striking the react differently to the notion of family as cultural support. cultural as the to notion differently family of react Indian women migrants in the United the in States women migrants Indian Vikram himself muses: muses: himself Vikram The In-Between The In-Between - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 33 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 34 colonial – went to India once, and brought back my mother” (VL 21). –went brought my once,colonial and toback mother” India (VL practice His was, “proudly Kenyan, hopelessly... Africa and in born bred Mr. Lall, a difference. in orderliveinside space to with butthenational identifications outside maintain alternative public that spheres construct to seek Diasporas against. ititself defines on what diaspora, on borders more the Asian of South to focus the sense it makes boy. African an love to in marry desire and fall might girl Indian an that by suggesting humanism of and freedom sense innate Africans´ latter´s the and relationships of interracial view respect this In silenced. ible totally and invis writing, Asian African room back of to the East banished remained generally has Asian comment. The female further any needs for hardly good miscegenation of spectre the bury and forge awhole wheresystem value he new arena can own his not colour” (DT 118). aman, his still was where aman life, social creative kept their had Africans the it other way [because] the would be ever than figures theamong black more acceptable far was “a that brown figure understands marry, eventually will Samsher that nurse Tejani’s African forceful the novel Nanziri, In to bear. involvementonly too when shameful corruption his becomes political in one the be to abandon her but husband, ironically embodiment ofthe will tradition, fold, to or the by voluntarily force. Shobha, end up returning they space, diaspora the of perils the on board Yasmin, extent, to take alesser and, Deepa Ironically, although border-crossing. confronted by dynamic, are anew both as original) in 209; emphasis where Njorogein and Deepa themselves site“the deeply find enriching. time same at the thefamily, of confines the within her pleasure she seeks as Deepa convenience. like of Shobhafirecracker is no marriage is a real Theirs wife. is Shoba, Vikram’s character from her woman community.young own third The apartner find upherself her and lead to him give crushed, be could rules munity Deepa’s even comand that parents’of news the with defiance linked termination, 211). (VL not not Idid deter her belong that to her faith” of her bounds community. beyond restrictive It the did to sought escape evidently of her that apart “there was possesses: sister his that strength of female kind same to Deepa’s claim that she has the right to choose her own husband leaves no leaves her to doubt: husband choose right own the to Deepa’s she has that claim reaction its norms. His resist time, same at the and, Kenya, in place in hierarchy racial complicated three-tier by the case host country, the this in with to accommodate is the native is as much a diasporian as the diasporian is the native the is diasporian the as a diasporian much as is native the Rather than single out essential features of the Asian communities of Kenya, of Kenya, communities of Asian the features out single essential than Rather as space diaspora the whoclaims character Asian themale that is it fact The enticing but exciting, and dangerous is that space adiaspora Vassanji suggests 340) (VL films. were the there on Sundays, gatherings family extended large the there were and Sita, Ami children our with a contented one. There were outings remained home, which the and family of the sanctity the in But shebelieved others. of agent it, an she called as a dalal a mere middleman, I was that fact or the perhaps, element of condescension an was there me either; or hated I don’t she disliked think it. Vikram’s of de lack she calls as for Deepa her “spunk” Yasmin admires Vassanji on elaborated Tejani’s has one-sided – possibly exaggerated possibly ” (Brah, 1996:” (Brah, – faith in the the in faith - - - comfort inthearmsofanAfrican woman. comfort words, she Peter In Nazareth’s Africans. and of cherished Africa Asians South view short-sighted her ironic regrettably vision of narrow-minded and Nobody the escapes order empower in and men. to tables the her disempower the women characters turn norms completely. patriarchal She overturn notpost-feminist which does works, simply women a with iron,rod its rules of community diasporic The Asian. to spat her she even uponmotoring is public and in accident attached by is afellow for Dilip’s Blame a in name. death accidental family to the attached being scandal murder the forced of to her is aid Njoroge and husband munity to avoid and shame whole by the com ostracised being her in shop she risks African an with seen being By openly love mother, role and the again. her stop of childhood seeing wife cannot performs dutifully although Dilipand the rebound on marries off. She affair the to her called Njoroge mother’s succumbed that has she and discovers has pleadings men, aheavier toll on women taken than has way of inferior life alien, an as see can’t It But 206). they doesn’t or European. mix. or Asian (VL work” African an being “There’swith wrong that: her She daughter tells nothing diaspora. established ofber an as a mem than rather generation migrant afirst as reacts thus her and husband) unlike space. to enterdiaspora Brah’s unwilling are parents Lall The inhabitants. black its native with 200-1). (VL told, you are do girl!” as will You of parents! our blessings and permission the with we marry and customs, our we have Proud Indians, Indians. desis, we are remember that, notare Europeans, anyone whom you Papa want? We exploded. marry you do you will mean “What 14

Mrs. Lall identifies very closely with India (she was born and there India born brought with up closely(she was very identifies Lall Mrs. 14 Siddiqi`sin Jameela ridiculed are of community” The “the doublestandards 183-189). (Rayaprol disapproval. face to ‘the community’ faithfulness and chastity heterosexual of notions femininity, ideal from monitored. Trangressions closely is ofbehaviour The [...]tradition. of theinto vortex women latter the draw to no effort it spares old world values, to certain generation second of the loyalty on the depends agroup as integrity very its that believes men. [...]on the strongly community the Since than more Community the thein womenbe to on seems ‘Indian’ being of The burden from away floutedwhen home custom,runs she has Deepa to return only (120) fathers. the than more conservatism showing actually are mothers the of culture, Moreover, keepers the as traditions. to Indian strongly more adhere to parents immigrant these led further has erasure cultural of fear This of way life. cultural of their preservation the about anxious become have parents [...] of partners choice first-generation by [...]Confronted of individual practice the into they what of assimilation fear that suggest Dasgupta &Das Dasgupta I t is revealing that his understanding of the host country is is of host country the understanding his that revealing t is

However, attheendofnovel, afterthedeathofhismother, Vikram’s fatherwillseek Britain not Kenya Kenya not - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 35 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 36 African women, which harks back to Said´s back women, harks which African of son” (GSsensuality by the repelled and 184). fascinated both is Interestingly, Salim for Dhanji her Govindji Certainly, “risked heritage. damnation African the with terms muses, untold. left Salim best secret embarrassing an as narrative suppressed from the been has story Her life of Salim. great-grandmother and mistress of Govindji’s story the is African links missing One of tantalisingly the of Dhanji Govindji. of descendants the history the in aforgotten link object recalls momentostory. off a new from itsnoo” interior every Each he as retrieves triggers world. the in anywhere community any as complex multifaceted and as Africa, East in diaspora Asian of South the of dynamics the to understanding a new 331). (FV girl” little genderof in Siddiqi’srelations The deconstruction work points a boy. a Fine, like feel I´ll aboy be on them, outside but the it Istill if inside pleases given: “I abiological don´t than rather of performance say I´m gender as they if care her moreunderstanding fluid suggest mother order of child in the his custody to keep girl by as a up outdressed boythebe a turns to Brat gender. that character her fact The of either Asians African of East the bigotry and attention pettiness to the draws recital 76) new 2002: but this (Nazareth, recital” anew to orchestrate feminine the “frees family saga is swept under the carpet, as Kulsum warns Salim: “ Salim: warns Kulsum as carpet, under the swept is saga family the in her way for and part a “proper” to wife make dispached Indian hastily tibu is pressures put uponpressures other power words, them, in the of couple the but for external inevitably between the of values of clash the because murder. own to lead his fact in of will embezzlement act this so of Matamu [headman] Mukhi the time, He at the is, community’s resources. his with together savings life Govindji’s his makes come quest he all to spends nought as Vassanji of Africa. identity, one into heart day the disappears African own lured by his son Huseni, who, mixed-race form perhaps of the his in roots African for his search (GSinto 35). bush” the in journey on aphysical embarks Salim’s great-grandfather “right goes quarter African the Indeed created. had Asians the that paradise the amid of horrors the of Mau Mau rumours the with into ahell, seething turning rapidly move from aNairobi where family the Salaam, es of Dar quarter native the he fears Interracial relationships in Vassanji’s in relationships Interracial novels tend to problematic, be not to coming and Taratibu, clue the to is understanding “patience” Swahili, in [...]. away taken also sisters (GS and 29).brothers her uncles, and father of her home, her slaughtered think she not also did and coast, to the she brought was village, gutted tribe, From ravaged homeland? what of adistant reminders with echoed ocean roaring the and chirped crickets and rustled trees coconut and mango when nights on lonely, African comfort breezy for Bibi Taratibu, to my ancestor given one, this gentle this she like, was What by Ji“Shehrba to him bequeathed Bai sack gunny the Juma names Salim 5. 5. CONCLUSION: IN SEARCH OF AFRICANNESS CONCLUSION: SEARCH IN Orientalism khandaanity (1978). fashion, asimilar In Black ancestry was was ancestry Black . Thus . Thus Bibi Tara - - laments the cultural isolation of the diaspora from its homeland. isolation of diaspora the cultural the laments by Siddiqi, mocked persistently is space, who into Brah’s diaspora to entering fully and,extension, by refus together” as “sticking Asians the of image The a vengeance. with people on differences to tend their to hang of globalization climate current the world the despite in as or anywhere Africa not may East feasible in hybrid be society origin. of African black fellow citizens with together space diaspora the hybrid in their selves celebrating and “Asian identity as Africans” their subcontinent claiming are Indian the in roots ancestral with or Kenya Uganda as such countries example of of an howcitizens exhibitionis The Nairobi themselves. Asians the among attitude in change a sea been has there acknowledged, being finally is nations African economies post-colonial of the East role boosting their in 2004). (Tharoor Africans” We Asian are African. and Wetradition. Asian both are on bi-continental our identity rests “Our social He argued, Africa. of East society hybridized the within Trust, for Asianness South aspace Pheroze Nowrojee claimed of the chairman the politics, contributionIndian to African Africanness. of understanding new slowly into merges a groups kept burden apart the of exploitationtorical has that his painful the until Africans with intermarrying than rather association through grasped only be can cooperation,in not 92).Africanness filiation (Scheckter Their their andlegitimacy notlineage, linkage, in theirsecurity find must Asians the that levels” (GS to down unacceptable 184). standing of social mercury the would bring it Arctic blast, an like tree be would thefamily from blood African of.of Awhiff to think prospects marriage girls’ two had Kulsum younot advertised. something was only possible out of a sense of having a common enemy acommon of out having possible of only asense was India, from settlers the among of give-and-take kind this that lesson vital the learnt also have would they And dreams. cherished of their model aperfect found have would they Pearl, then in harmony of multi-religious mechanics the study trouble to and come the taken had descendants their and leaders nationalist Indian blinkered those only If Generally speaking, a underestimated to often celebrate the held exhibition 2004 Nairobi in in an In [...]. say you will too Not all, (GS 258-9) to Bagamoyo. chains in girls and interior, boys the in back brought who lages vil burnt and whips and people took who guns your it. It was ran yours trade, theslave financed mine If Amina? ancestors, [...] Swahili of your what And them!” of “Enough of them’ ‘Not all trade!” theslave financed they Perhaps me? you don’t you tell Can know. Perhaps forgot you conveniently of yours? ancestors to come do, these they did What “And that? Beyond then? here born was here. My born father Iwas African. an am Itoo me ‘Indian’”? do you call “Why suggests John Scheckter of of works Peter the discussion Nazareth, his In – even my grandfather!” even –

s the mistrust of the Asians has been dissipated and and dissipated been has of Asians the mistrust s the

The possibility of a true true of a Thepossibility Asian African Heritage Heritage African Asian – the Black Man. (FV 83) (FV Man. Black the – - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 37 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 70; 2015, PP. 13-40 38 Dasgupta Churchill Brah Bharati Bhachu Bhabha —— Alibhai-Brown to yet written. be is Asian, an as ranking social privileged her and awoman as her state explores both subaltern which Asian, African East female of Alibhai-Brown’s history and cultural Vassanji´s in slant Siddiqi´s and work and society, of closed the African the standing under anew pave way towards the quirks of Asian unearthing ruthless plots the and both her in turns and twists The experience. diasporic female the surrounding pressures and of constraints the narrative amore excludes meaningful portrayals character depth Nineof the Virgins stereotypes grotesque Her choice repertoire of of epistomological aRushdiesque satisfaction. than laughter proves rule. the exception that the still men are women African and Asian e and Man, Black –the menace despotic ruthless, aggressive, womb black –the –to asexually receptacle complacent,docile, willing claims that “The worstthingthatmighthappentousasagroup isthatwe justdwindleandfade away.”claims that“The ——

, Avtar. , Avtar. The Settler’s CookbookSettler’sThe The Asians in East Africa. Jayhind and Uhuru. and Jayhind Africa. East in Asians The , Homi K. K. , Homi , Parminder. , Parminder. , Agehananda. “A Social Survey” in Dharam P. ed. Ghai, Dharam in Survey” “A Social , Agehananda. Reviews senttoauthor:23November 2014.Revised paperacceptedforpublication:2February 2015. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/1243587.stm 15 Women in America in Dialogue” Africa. East provokes more Africa Siddiqi´s East in settlers of Indian treatment the parodic from a feminized been upgraded has African the that indicates passage This , Sayantani & Shamita &Shamita , Sayantani

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