BBC RADIO LEICESTER'S UGANDA 40 SEASON: CLOSING RECEPTION

I've accepted an invitation to attend a reception at BBC Radio Leicester this evening, to celebrate the conclusion of their Uganda 40 season, that has been running for the past couple of months.

There are about 60 guests gathered in the foyer. I've not seen this used for such a purpose before, but its a very good setting for this kind of thing. For part of the reception, Kamlesh Purohit is broadcasting live from the foyer, interviewing some of the attendees. After all, this is taking place during his time slot.

Speakers include Jane Hill (Editor of BBC Radio Leicester), Rupal Rajani (BBC Radio Leicester presenter, who travelled to Uganda to record several programmes broadcast during this celebratory season) and Sir Peter Soulsby (City Mayor). Sir Peter offers a brief overview of the ways in which the arrival and settlement of Ugandan Asians has transformed the nature of Leicester in business, civic, commercial, culinary, cultural, demographic, economic, political, religious and social terms over the past four decades.

In the photo above, Jane Hill presents Rupal and her producer, Namrata Varia, with a gift expressing the station's thanks for the work they put into making the Uganda 40 season such a success.

As part of the entertainment this evening, Rishi Tavare plays tabla and there's a performance by Kesha Raithatha (photo above), from Leicester's Centre for Indian Classical Dance. There's an exhibition about the Centre on the first floor here, which I get an opportunity to look at (photo below).

It is announced this evening, to general acclaim, that the exhibition, "From Kampala to Leicester" which ran for three months at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery will be given a permanent home at Newarke Houses Museum. I've blogged a couple of times about that, particularly the closing reception (24 September) and about a lecture I heard there entitled, Ugandan Asians in Leicester: From Refugees to Citizens (7 August). I also took part in a live phone-in radio show, last in a week-long series with Jim Davis, entitled "Immigration and Integration: What is the Future for Leicester?"

This is a very congenial occasion which says good things about our city. I'm privileged to have been invited and glad to have attended.

Of the six photos included here, the first, second and fourth are courtesy of Dimple Patel, producer at BBC Radio Leicster. There's also a nice gallery of photos from this evening's event on the website of Pukaar News.

RECEPTION AS EXHIBITION ENDS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Reception as exhibition ends

A reception has been held to mark the end of an exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the expulsion of Asians from Uganda.

The show, From Kampala to Leicester, began at New Walk Museum in July.

It told the story of Leicester's Ugandan Asian community from1972 to the present day and how the 10,000-strong community which settled in the city has influenced its development.

The exhibition, which was extended by a week because of its popularity, featured films, personal testimonies and rare artefacts borrowed from Leicester's Ugandan Asian community.

Belgrave Business Association hosted a reception at the museum on Friday for 60 guests, including Leicester East MP Keith Vaz and city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby.

The association's chairman, Dharmesh Lakhani, said: "The influx of the Asian community has played a major part in Leicester as we see it today.

"It was important to recognise the part the community has played in Leicester's history, reflected in the exhibition put on by the museum."

FROM KAMPALA TO LEICESTER: CLOSING RECEPTION

Cllr Ted Cassidy and Suleman Nagdi, chatting inside the main display space of the exhibition

This evening I'm at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery for a reception to mark the successful conclusion of From Kampala to Leicester, the popular exhibition which tells the story of Leicester's Ugandan Asian community, 1972-2012.

From Kampala to Leicester (the exhibition itself and associated events) has run at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery (and a number of other venues around the city) from 14 July and was to conclude this Sunday, 30 September. Due to popular demand, it has been extended by one week.

There are a number of distinguished guests among the 60 or so attendees this evening, including Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby; Deputy Mayor, Cllr Rory Palmer; Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Abdul Osman; Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Suleman Nagdi; two Assistant Mayors and half a dozen City Councillors. Director of Leicester City Council's Museums and Arts Service, Sarah Levitt, presides over the formal part of the reception. Sir Peter gives a speech, as does Cllr Sundip Meghani. Cllr Meghani is the son and grandson of refugees from Uganda who came to this country with little more than the clothes on their back. He now enjoys the distinction of being the youngest City Councillor currently serving in Leicester. He proposed a motion to the City Council on 13 September, recognising the contribution that Ugandan Asians have made to Leicester over the past 40 years. You can read all about this in more detail on Cllr Meghani's blog (including a video recording of his speech to Council). We also hear written testimonies of four people from diverse backgrounds, not natives of the city but who have come to call Leicester home (two of them having come here from Uganda in 1972).

There's even a period feel in the catering tonight. Among the delicacies on offer, we have that 70s classic, cheese and pineapple on a cocktail stick, but with an Asian twist: the cheese is paneer. That's so Leicester!

STORY OF UGANDA EXODUS IS TOLD

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Story of Uganda exodus is told

A digital audio trail has been launched that tells the story of Leicester's Ugandan Asians.

New Walk Museum and Art Gallery is running the From Kampala to Leicester exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the arrival in the city of about 10,000 people expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin.

The audio trail guides people between the museum and Phoenix, in the Cultural Quarter.

Councillor Piara Singh Clair, assistant city mayor responsible for heritage, said: "This is a fascinating part of Leicester's history and this digital trail through the city will bring it to life as never before.

It is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the exodus of Ugandan Asians."

The trail uses personal testimony from Leicester's Ugandan Asian community.

Restaurateur Dharmesh Lakhani, of Belgrave Road, whose family was among those expelled, said: "It something different and that could be quite exciting."

Accountant Praful Thakrar, of Oadby, said: "This is a very good idea which will help today's generation understand better what their parents and grandparents went through."

From Kampala to Leicester runs until September 30.

Shop windows along the trail will display posters featuring QR codes, which can be read by smartphones to access more information.

www.leicester.gov.uk/ ugandanasianstory/

UGANDAN ASIANS IN LEICESTER: FROM REFUGEES TO CITIZENS

After having spent an hour or so at the launch of Clare Jackson's portrait exhibition at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, I wander into the exhibition From Kampala to Leicester, which tells the story of Leicester's Ugandan Asian community, 1972-2012.

I wonder why it's so busy this time of a weekday evening; not everyone here was at the exhibition launch. After a few minutes, a staff member comes in and ushers us into another room, telling us that "This evening's talk is about to start". I'm not here for the talk - I didn't even know there was going to be one or what the topic is - but I'm at a loose end for the rest of the evening, so I'm happy to tag along.

I'm glad I did. The speaker is Dr Pippa Virdee (in photo above), Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Historical & Social Studies. Her subject: "Ugandan Asians in Leicester: From Refugees to Citizens" is a fascinating topic, well researched and nicely delivered. And I get the chance to meet some lovely people here this evening too, making a few strong contacts that I hope bode well for the future.

From Kampala to Leicester (and associated events) continues at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery (and a number of other venues around the city) till Sunday 30 September.