Oral histories of Ugandan Asians in Britain: gendered identities in the diaspora

Abstract

This article draws on life stories with first-generation Ugandan Asians to explore the construction of their collective identities and to highlight the primacy of gender in this process. The article seeks to unpack the meanings configured around salient images in their narratives including the heroic male pioneer, the South Asian housewife and the South Asian woman bereft of her jewellery. These capture important moments in the expression of their collective history; from their father's migration to East Africa, to their life in Uganda and their subsequent expulsion. It is argued that whilst the depiction of the male pioneer epitomised their sense of being successful migrants by surviving and transcending difficulties, the representations of women help to communicate the sudden and profound sense of loss Ugandan Asians felt as they were forced to flee Uganda and resettle in Britain. This sense of loss was multifaceted and was deeply felt by the male respondents. The images of women, particularly during the expulsion, served as a counterpoint to the men's narratives and are contested by the women's own personal stories, which reveal the range of experiences.