28 The Magazine
PROFILE One Holding Investment
FACE TO FACE Rosa Hui - MBE DL
SPECIAL FEATURE Honour Killings
PEOPLE & PLACES Rajasthan - with Nigel Williams
OUT & ABOUT Chinese New Yaer Mother Tongue Day Bristol Diverse Open Day Bristol Sudanese Community Bristol Somali Forum Bristol Somali Womens Group
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Known in the community as ‘Mo’, Mohamed is a local business man and entrepreneur in inner city Bristol. A business and community leader within the Somali community, Mast catches up with him to talk about business and what his doing for his own, and the wider BME communities. Over the years you have run a number of businesses and have always been proactive in the community and now you have taken over CEED Ltd as director. How did this come about and what challenges have you faced? Mo- I took over CEED and became the director in April 2014. There were a lot of issues to deal with in the start; we had problems with the council and the local community as the previous directors had let the community down and for this reason we had to rebuild trust with both the community and Bristol City Council. This was the reason that the council had issues and we have found it hard with them to keep the building for the local community.
What sort of programmes are you running for the youth? Mo - We offer them training and advice to keep them of the streets and give them something more productive to do. The council have made it difficult in the start, what would you like the council to do to help? Mo - We feel that we are doing a lot and the council should look at this and help us to progress and offer more to the community. What do you see the future of CEED, where would you like to go with this organisation? Mo - We want to help the BME and local Communities to develop and progress. We want this building to be a centre for business and learning. We will offer more training and development opportunities as well as offering affordable office and work spaces. We would like to welcome and work with all other organisations.
So all these issues have been resolved? Mo - Yes, CEED Ltd is back to normal and we are now where we want to be. We are here for the community and want to serve and make a difference. What services do you offer? Mo- We help the local BME and wider community with employment and improving their skills e.g. language and employability. We are working closely with the youth to try educating and empowering them.
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INTRODUCTION …another season and on with our Spring Limited Edition hot on the heels of civic and mayoral elections scheduled for May 5th. This edition is overdue, should have been out early March. Fortunately, a medium that enhances community awareness and propagates the potential of Asian & Ethnic Minorities by giving opportunities to all of these communities, our time scale is dictated by events and ceremonies of these communities. Nevertheless, here we are having included all if not most of the events since the beginning of the year and included in this edition is a pictorial of the MTM Awards 2015 Glittering Gala Evening and that very important announcement of the MTM 2016 nomination launch. The Bristol Mayoral elections have brought some good to our Asian & Ethnic businesses and communities. We have had visits from political heavy weights from Westminster including regular talks and visits by the incumbent mayor George Ferguson and at least one of the prospective mayoral candidates getting to know the business community through the efforts of a local councillor. Following this campaign trail I have noticed as always in any political campaign, candidates often bite at each other and make a lot of ‘Donald Trump’ like promises (building a wall on the Mexican border). I am not saying that these Bristol based candidates intend to build a wall separating this beautiful city, it’s just that some of their election pledges are unrealistic and they know too well that they are not able to deliver on these mount Everest promises. Well May 5th is not too far but what will be very far and taxing for many that fall prey to such #playing cards ‘is four years of back tracking. On a good note we congratulate Peaches Golding MBE on her appointment as a Customer Champion by Bristol Water. Peaches Golding OBE has been appointed as Independent Chair of Bristol Water’s Challenge Panel, tasked with ensuring customer’s views are at the heart of our business planning. Mrs Golding is an award-winning, trusted and respected business and community leader who brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her new role. Customer Challenge Groups (CCG) hold water companies to account on current performance and are used to influence business planning and provide on-going assurance to the industry regulator, Ofwat. The independent Chair holds a unique position of trust between the people and businesses supplied by Bristol Water and has a remit to constructively challenge and influence the company on behalf of customers, reflecting their views and interests. Mrs Golding has chaired many local groups including Ofcom’s Viewer Panel for ITV West, she was England’s first black High Sheriff and is widely regarded for her work representing diverse and disadvantaged communities; all highly beneficial experience to bring to the Challenge Panel, particularly in discussions regarding tariffs, affordability and service levels. Mrs Golding said: “I am delighted to be able to take on the role of customer champion. As a Bristol Water customer I feel well placed to understand and represent the views of the people the business serves. This is a time of major change for the water industry and the Challenge Panel will play an important part in shaping the future of Bristol Water and ensure that customers are at the heart of decision making.” And at the heart of the local community scene another community group is born – Bristol Somali Women’s Group which is led by Nimo Ibrahim and Iman Abdi. The group held its first event, a Town Hall talk with Bristol Mayor George Ferguson at the Easton Community centre.
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Finally MTM South West Asian & Ethnic Minorities Awards 2016 are back, now in its 5th year celebrating the excellence of the Asian & Ethnic Minorities in the South West. The Official Launch takes place on the 26th of May at 6pm in the Conservatory of the Bristol Marriott Hotel by Invitation.
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Jahangir Khan known as Jay to most of his friends and Munir Safdar is a business match made in heaven. Passionate about success and a goal to achieve the pair operate under One Holding Investments with interest both national and international. Simple, soft spoken and eloquent, Jay and Munir are business elite that can walk past you without notice, yet these business geniuses run multi-million businesses. Jay met Munir, some 15 years ago in Malaysia at a time when his main line was furniture imports. He says, “My background is in real estate, we started property buying, later set up a factory in Turkey though still importing furniture from Malaysia, finally settling in Bristol” Munir added, “We manufacture mattresses as consumer requirement with mattress varies as there are so many sizes in different colours and a texture stocking them is just not possible so they are made to order at our plants in Bristol and York.” The group opened a new plant in Newport in 2015 manufacturing pillows and quilts, with a turnover of 20 million the group is established as one of the big players in the economy. They employ close to 200 people and are looking to expand further to create opportunities of employment. “ We do not believe in making noise, we have kept our heads down, work hard, working is our passion, what you see is just 50% of our business, we are into a many projects, we do not believe in media hype, our Group, has a turn-over of over 20m and employs more than two hundred full time regular employees”. Like Munir Safdar I enjoy keeping a low profile and that has been our success. Munir is my senior partner, I have learnt a lot from him. We are currently on the high, manufacturing is booming, since the coming of e-com, things work fast, order online and get your goods in most cases within days. Winners of the prestigious MTM Production and Manufacturing Award 2014 and 2015 One Holding Investment is unrivalled in the region a and stands out as the most successful Asian & Ethnic business group in the South West and beyond. The new plant in Newport has some of the latest machinery for manufacturing and is fast expanding thus creating the much needed job opportunities in the country. Jay Khan finished with, “I will give you a story, Munir my business partner played a big role in my life, he has taught me a lot, made me stronger, you have to have a role model, mine has been Munir , you got to work hard, it is not easy. If somebody asked me to do this again. I will say no thank you, as you get only ‘one chance’, there are no short cuts, there is no overnight success, and you have to follow rules and discipline to succeed. If you are a 9-5 person, unwilling to take risks, you cannot make it, you must be ready for good and bad news in life, things can change overnight, you have to be strong to handle that.
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FACE TO FACE WITH ROSA HUI MBE DL Rosa Hui is recognised for her incredible contribution to the wider community especially the Chinese Community in the City. She dedicated her working life in helping others in ensuring they get the support they deserved. To say Rosa is passionate for what she does is a gross understatement to her achievements. She is a philanthropist and champion for what we strive to embody in the community. Rosa’s acknowledgement for her accomplishments is long overdue and she has done more than her part for making Bristol an all-round brighter and better place.. Rosa has worked for and in the Chinese community for 26 years and has reciprocally utilised both the community’s and her experiences to promote healthier living and to improve access to health services.
I had a Face to Face talk with Rosa at her offices at St Agnes Church Bristol.
J: Welcome to Mast Rosa, tell us a little about yourself? R: I was born in China and brought up in Hong Kong, I came to Britain to further my education, my intention was nursing but after I saw the sight of blood, I said this is not for me. I was 17 then, all alone in the western world so I decided to work and assist my parents as I attended the local polytechnic (now UWE) for a secretarial course. It was not long I had to take a gap year and go back home to look after my parents. I later came back to carry on with my education and worked on the Department of China desk representing Canton, Shanghai & Beijing in what became the South West China Trade.
J: When you first set foot here, did you feel welcome? R: Not really, it was very hard, I was vulnerable, very isolated and lonely to be honest I felt alone. It was a cultural shock, I cried every day. I think I was nervous and frightened, though later the local community got friendlier and nice. They were very few Chinese here then, many were caterers and it was not easy for me to integrate.
J: Why was that R: I was brought up in an Italian convent, I was not used to mixing with large communities but slowly I settled down. J: You mentioned that your passion was business which you pursued on your return to Bristol. R: I was conducting feasibility studies for Chinese and locals, visiting communities to see how best the locals can trade with china linking investors with Chinese businesses, most of our people then had little education so my task was not easy. Chinese do not like asking for hand-outs and help so to get them to understand that in order to integrate and create a smooth trading relationship, assistance and advice was necessary. We Chinese are very private; we do not share our problems. J: You seem to be a tough character, if I may say. R: I am a stubborn passionate character that is never satisfied with what I have achieved. I always aim to reach greater heights for whatever I do. My father was a hard worker, he pushed us to strive for the best and that is what I am, if that is stubbornness then I am passionately stubborn to achieve.
J: Talking to you I see you are a business minded person, when did you feel the need to involve with the community. R: My involvement with communities including the Chinese community in Bristol was God’s will. In 1989, I was delegated to accompany a South West group to Beijing, and unfortunately the trip was stopped until further notice. This prompted me to look for an alternate way to sustain myself; I started producing reports and teaching English to our Chinese community. This was difficult as I had just gone through a divorce and the Chinese do not take to women who are divorced kindly. Later I was requested to start a Chinese Women’s group, this slowly helped me gain roots and be accepted by the Chinese community. I also liaised with the Chinese Embassy office in London and organised several events and business meetings, this got me started and now I am fully accepted by both parties.
J: What are your highlights of your community work? R: My list of participation of community groups and organisations is long; I have worked with the Bristol City Council on the Eye to Eye project on the BME elderly people, the Afro-Caribbean community, and the Police & Crimes panel committee. I am never afraid to speak; I always fight for equality and opportunity. Most of the time people are afraid to stand up for you so you need to stand up for yourself. I have raised my two children as a single parent. I had brain haemorrhage 17 years ago but I am still here, each day is a bonus. I feel blessed and I am grateful. Treat people as they should be treated, you should never use your success or achievements to suppress others instead encourage them and help them. Currently the Syrian refugees need us we need to assist them together. Unity and strength, I appeal to the BME communities not to fight amongst ourselves, the system loves to divide us, and we need to stay united as one, tighter our voices will be heard, together we will earn respect and tighter we will create opportunities for our people especially the youth. J: Rosa Hui thank you for granting us the opportunity to talk to you Face To Face. R: Junior, thank you for coming and giving me a chance to share my thoughts.
A BLUE PLAQUE AND OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY—IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR SARI—WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US. As we approach the 25th anniversary of SARI in operation, it is a very reflective time in which to assess where we have come from and what we have achieved. Originally set up to provide communities with a place to go when suffering from racism, SARI has worked tirelessly to provide a specialist service to ensure racism was recognised and dealt with, SARI has worked with thousands of clients throughout the years. For many years the helm of the organisation was headed by Batook Pandya. He pioneered our work and built SARI into the organisation it is today. In recognition of his hard work and vision, Batook has been honoured by being awarded a Bristol Blue Plaque. This has been awarded—very unusually—just 2 years after his death. Permission has been granted to have it placed at Batook’s place of work—SARI’s offices in Portland Square. Gordon Young, Convenor of the Blue Plaques Panel, Bristol Civic Society stated: “Blue plaques embellish our buildings and honour individuals who make an important contribution to our city. We are delighted to have worked with SARI to ensure that Batook Pandya’s campaigning against racial intolerance is now remembered by a commemorative plaque”. Mayor George Ferguson stated: “Batook Pandya was a giant in Bristol public life—with a passion for fairness and cultural integration. If anyone deserves a Blue Plaque, Batook does!” Lord Lieutenant of Bristol Mary Prior added: “I am delighted that Batook’s exceptional commitment and outstanding contribution has been recognised in this most prestigious way”. Esther Deans MBE, Chair of SARI concludes: “This will mark the incredible achievements of Batook in his quest to achieve equality, justice and unity for all. He was a tireless campaigner for positive race relations in the region and well known for his wit and inspirational outlook. We are extremely proud that his efforts will now go down in Bristol’s history for future generations to celebrate.” We hope you will come to visit us and view Batook’s Blue Plaque. We hope it inspires you just as much as the big man himself. In the end, it falls on each and every one of us the continue the work that Batook set out to accomplish; his legacy rests in our hands. We would like to thank everyone we have supported, and everyone who has supported us over the last 25 years. We’re looking forward to the next part of our journey with you. Esther Deans Chair of SARI
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MHC & CO is providing accounting, tax, VAT, Payroll, business start ups, tax consulting and dealing with tax enquiries with difference from last seven years. Accountancy practice is run by Mubashar Chaudhry FCCA with extensive experience in the field. We provide a wide range of accounting services to an extensive range of organisations and individuals, throughout the UK. Our customers ranging from individuals to leading businesses in the UK. Our close relationship with our clients provides an insight into a far wider range of business situations than is traditionally associated with an accountancy practice. As a result we seek to ensure that clients are kept abreast of the new opportunities which arise in the business world. We keep our client’s all invoices and accounting record digitally for six years with online access for them to download as and when needed. We help our clients grow their business by networking, marketing techniques, raising capital by finding grants, cheap loans, overdraft and tax relief schemes. We also assist them in tax enquiries without paying extra through our fee protection policy. We can help remove the burden of managing your accounts without it costing the earth. Our prices are very competitive but our services are distinct. From summer edition onward we are writing tax blog for Must Magazine readers that will help them to understand their responsibility as tax payer and also tax tips to save money through effective tax planning. We are also giving 20 minutes free consultation for Must Magazine readers as well.
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Our close relationship with our clients provides an insight into a far wider range of business situations than is traditionally associated with an accountancy practice. As a result we seek to https://plus.google.com/s/mhcandco ensure that clients are kept abreast of the new opportunities which arise in the business world. We keep our client’s all invoices and accounting record digitally for six years with online access for them to download as and when needed. We help our clients grow their business by networking, marketing techniques, raising capital by finding grants, cheap loans, overdraft and tax relief schemes.
We also assist them in tax enquiries without paying extra through our fee protection policy. We can help remove the burden of managing your accounts without it costing the earth. Our prices are very competitive but our services are distinct. From summer edition onward we are writing tax blog for Must Magazine readers that will help them to understand their responsibility as tax payer and also tax tips to save money through effective tax planning. We are also giving 20 minutes free consultation for Must Magazine readers as well.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
HONOUR KILLINGS Killed by her father for marrying the man she loved, Saba’s own father shot her in the head, stuffed her in a bag, and dumped her in a river. Then he walked free because of a loophole in Pakistani law that allows men to commit so-called “honour killings”. But, incredibly, Saba survived and she has created a ray of hope to finally stop these outrages! Saba’s story is now an Oscar-Winning Award documentary, and it’s all over the news. In response, the Pakistani PM just promised to end these heinous crimes, and sources say he’s instructed his daughter Maryam to be part of the reform process. But activists fear that the bill will only be passed if massive public pressure is sustained. Around the world a woman is killed every 90 minutes in an honour crime. Although Pakistan passed a law in 2004 against these murders, 70% of perpetrators in Pakistan walk free because of a “forgiveness” loophole in the law. If a woman is seen to bring “shame” on her family by refusing to enter an arranged marriage, looking too long at a boy, or even being raped, a man is free to kill her as long as another family member forgives him. There is nobility in communities that value and protect their honour. But these killings are not about honour, they are about seeing women as property and the forgiveness loophole protects that right to own and kill women and girls. Such killings have been practiced in Pakistan,India and even in the UK for decades, usually by the victims’ families to protect family honour if a woman is assumed to have had premarital or extramarital sex, married of her own will or refused a marriage arranged by her family. ‘Honour’ is often regarded as central to the social standing and position of families within certain communities. The concept is largely believed to be embodied by the young women and “is based on absolutely every move that [the woman] makes or every word that she says”. The family ‘honour’ is therefore vested in her behaviour, appearance, and sexuality, and is “there to be guarded by men”. Women are taught from birth to follow a set of rules, or ‘honour’ codes, in order to avoid bringing ‘dishonour’ to the family. While these codes can vary from family to family, they are always based upon the regulation of the woman’s independence and freedom of movement, i.e. whether she is allowed to leave the family home and if so, who with
and what time. Adherence to these ‘honour’-codes is often guarded and enforced through ‘honour’-based violence (HBV), ranging from emotional and psychological abuse such as threats and intimidation, to sexual and physical abuse including rape, violence and, in some cases, murder. HBV cuts across many cultures and communities, South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Turkish, Kurdish, Afghani, South and Eastern European. In 2000, the United Nations Population Fund estimated that around 5,000 women die in ‘honour’ killings every year worldwide, the vast majority in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. While HBV is largely perpetrated by male members of a family against young women for failing to conform to their rules and regulations, men can also be victims of HBV. At the moment, in so many communities and families, [honour] is merely used to suppress women, to oppress women. So if men do the same, well its men they can do what they want. There are major differences between ‘honour’ and ‘domestic’ violence. For example, ‘honour’ killings are more likely to be premeditated than killings as a result of domestic violence, which are more likely to be unexpected and spontaneous. The majority of UK ‘honour’ killings are planned in advance by one or more members of the victims’ family. Another difference is considered to be that apparent regret is shown by the perpetrator of domestic violence more often than that of HBV. While men commit the majority of ‘honour’ killings, there are cases in which women have played both active and passive roles. While these women share the belief that a woman can bring shame and dishonour, there is also immense pressure put on all family members to guard the ‘honour’ of the family. In the period leading up to a forced marriage, young women are often withdrawn from school and can be imprisoned in the family home or elsewhere; Women and girls can often deeply internalise concepts of ‘honour’ so that they may feel unable to defy their families’ wishes. This isolation from the outside world can be accompanied by physical violence and can lead to mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. Challenges in Raising Awareness and Identifying Victims amongst communities and in schools are certainly lacking due to lack of awareness and willingness to cooperate among schools. This prevents teachers from: firstly, being able to help prevent HBV through education; but also to identify and protect victims of HBV. Women’s groups have also disappointed by the lack of commitment from the Department for Education and police forces who are failing to properly identify, record, and report ‘honour’-based crimes; While women’s groups that have a
BRISTOL SOMALI FORUM (BSF) An umbrella organisation dedicated to promote the unified voice of the large diverse Somali population in Bristol (UK). BSF has been established to bring to serve as a common platform of the many other Somali organisations in the region.
The objective of BSF is to support, empower and inspire the Bristol Somali community and environs. This we have achieved through advice, counselling, mentoring the youth, training and community participation. BSF has also assisted the community with workshops, culture events and family matters. We hope to inspire and empower our youth by having partenership with other organisations and communities, providing leadership and being the voice of the Somali organisations in Bristol by promoting equal representation and good leadership. Since taking office the current committee of BSF has assisted many families and have had a fruitful meeting with relevant authorities on the way forward for the youth of this community. Recently BSF organised a Somali Culture and Food Day at Trinity Hall Bristol The event was a show case of Somali culture & food attended by hundreds including local councillors and the Bristol Mayor George Ferguson who was chief guest. This event solely organised by BSF is one of the many that the group hopes to hold this year to bring this community together and enhance community cohesion with the other Bristol communities. The BSF committee is made up of Hannah Ahmed, Abdul Ahmed, Ahmed Ali & John Sumatra.
Bristol Somali Forum is a community based organisation initiated by the need for a common voice of the Somali people in the region. At BSF we hope to provide: Provide advice, information and guidance on health, education, housing and welfare issues. Promote community participation, integration and cohesion Enhance the wellbeing and health of Somali mothers and their families through organise cultural events and exhibition of Arts Provide advice, support and information guidance in regard to benefits, housing, health, education and legal system. Organise holiday schemes for the most disadvantaged families Advocate for the issues raised by the Somali community Bridge the gap between Somali mothers and service providers. The group has pledged to work with all sectors of the Somali community, including a new group’s and hopes to engage with wider Bristol communities by providing a credible forum for Somali representation. Spokesperson Ahmed Abdul says, “Our generation is the future: it is up to us to act.” BSF’s next event is the Youth Forum that is scheduled for the 26th of April in Bristol.
Through this event BSF hope to engage the Bristol Somali Youth to tackle issues affecting education, sports, drug & alcohol abuse and other social norms. Hannah Ahmed says,” We need to address these issues instead of hiding them under the table, our community better address these problems now than later”. Ahmed Abdul added, “We understand that there may be upwards of 30,000 people from Somalian backgrounds in Bristol. There are large numbers of female-headed households and a noticeable number of single men who are disconnected from family and other formal community structures. It is as a result of this disconnect we at BSF need to go that extra mile to bring these families together through counselling, mentoring & education”
Mr Sumatra the elder of the team at BSF added,” Somalian community are hardworking unlike what many think here, we have taken over so many businesses in the Easton & St. Paul’s area and are slowly expanding to other areas of the city, this proves our potential” I kind of agree with Sumatra, as I see more Somalian women in business in Bristol than any other BME community, from supermarkets to restaurants not forgetting clothing shops and hair salons, these are run by Somali women and are successful. The long term aim of BSF is to set up the first ever Somali Community centre to enable women and their families to have a base where they meet to share information, discuss issues that affect them, get trainings and workshops for men and their families and to link with the other organisations for opportunities.
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BATTLING THE CURRY CRISIS Is Immigration the real issue affecting the industry and if it is, how are The Curry Kings going to tackle the issue. Are they just going to sit back and point fingers or make a move and find solutions to save this mega industry?
Europe and good apprentices hard to come by.
Curries first came to the UK in the early 1950s with the arrival of the Bangladeshi community on these shores. According to figures, there are currently over 15,000 outlets in the UK with an estimated 200 eateries in the Bristol area alone.
This is a Facebook Group that was started by restauranteur Moslek Udddin from Weston Super Mare just as an ordinary Facebook page searching for Indian restaurant staff around the country. Started just over a year ago today the Group has over 8500 members who are actively involved to not only search for staff but try to find a solution to the staffing crisis. Soon the group formed an inner circle of members that have gone that extra mile to solve the current curry crisis. The team includes Kwaz Ali also from Weston Super Mare, Munayam Khan from Birmingham, Assad Ahmed a former financial director with a media group now a restauranteur in Oxford, Rehan Uddin from Torbay, Rizwan Raja director of Raja Foods Bristol who is a supplier to many Indian restaurants and take-away in the South West and beyond and Shah Nawaz of Sheffield
The curry trade has seen tougher competition, a mixture of customer tastes and tighter laws surrounding immigration in recent years thus hitting the trade hard. Still favourite is the Chicken Tikka Masala, so what do the restaurants have to do to save this favourite. They are up in arms as businesses are not performing as they should have been in the past. There is a lot that contributes to this slump, “Food costs have hit the roof, energy prices are up, a shortage of skilled chefs, staff shortages, and changes in technology have all conspired against the traditional curry house. Curry restaurateurs say that tough new immigration laws on nonEU workers closes the doors on the skilled workers from South Asia thus a number of jobs sit vacant in the industry which is worth an estimated £4.1 bn. There are very few skilled workers available in
One online group ‘Indian Restaurant Staff Required’ seem to have made the first move in the right direction.
What do this group expect to achieve, speaking to Munayam Khan at one of the groups many networking evenings in Torbay he said, “As a restaurateur and business person, we must always remember that we are responsible for our actions and how we conduct our day-to-day business. We have moral, ethical and legal obligations.
We have to uphold the rights of all, 1st, the Employee, 2nd, the Customer, 3rd the Supplier and 4th, the State.” He went on, “Employees can be subjugated to unfair treatment and any form of oppression is wrong, be it financial or mental; however this does not diminish the obligation placed on the employees. The customer should not be misled or mis-sold. The supplier can expect to be paid for the goods supplied in good faith. The state system(s) maintains the welfare of all its citizens and the taxation system is a mechanism for that, so we have to abide by the law of the land. We need an overhaul in our industry and it begins a change in our cultural behaviours.” Listening to these inspiring words, I said, brilliant, ‘a change in our cultural behaviour’, that is what this industry needs I feel. Once the traditional way of running these money making restaurant changes and adapts to keeping in line with the competition that will be the first step towards saving this industry. Shah Nawaz of Sheffield had this to say, “We know that the Home Office will not change their stand in the visa system, so are we going to sit and complain, no we need to explore other avenues. For instance try to invest in equipment that can assist in this staffing shortage, the Tandoori maker or the combo oven. These produce the same quality than the tradition method with minimal staff required. The other way forward is hire waiting staff from the EU countries.” He added I have a mixture of Bengali and East European staff and that serves me well” This could assist in the staffing crisis but does that take away the authentic taste in the food, we go to these places to enjoy an authentic curry meal so do these new kitchen machinery take away that authentic taste. Shah Nawaz’s answer is no, they give you the same product with less staffing required and in time. I am glad I was invited to this networking session, and I give credit to the group Indian Restaurant Staff Required as I felt this was properly organised with a good presentation and an open town hall like Q&A. I met my hosts after a long drive from Bristol with Rizwan. I said to myself this is the time to ask a few of these restaurnteurs a burning question in regards to staffing, I started, The other issue curry entrepreneurs need to address is the treatment of staff brought in especially from Bangladesh and India. These people are treated like modern slaves in curry houses: Lured to our shores with promises of riches - then double-crossed by bosses who trap them in twilight of poverty and fear.” There was a hush on the table as I went on, “Some live like fugitives, they are moved around from house to house to avoid the authorities as some have outlived their legal status in the country but are tied down by the bosses to carry on working secretly and as these people have incurred debts coming here on those rosy promises .
The first to respond was Munayam who I am glad acknowledged that there are some unscrupulous operators out there but that’s a handful and that one of the reasons of these regular meeting was to address these issues by educating restaurateur that eventually the law will catch up with these spoilers of the industry. Around 90 per cent of ‘Indian’ restaurants in the UK are, in fact, owned by Bangladeshis. Once part of the Indian state of Bengal, Bangladesh remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Hundreds of thousands leave every year as economic migrants to make the journey for hopes of a better life with UK Back to our town Hall networking it was Raja Rizwan’s time to share his thoughts, he added, “Our industry needs us and it is this group and the many others around the country that can save this industry. We need to find ways to train local staff learn this specialised trade, as we cannot go on fighting the system as this is detrimental. So how do we train the staff, I believe we as a group have to come with a business plan on a training facility and request the government to assist either this team or any other group set up an Indian cooking Training facility. Then there is the question of pricing, are we pricing right?” To this here was a big no from the many attendees, many felt the supplies, gas, electricity, fuel and much more have been on the rise yet the Chicken Tikka Masala dish is still stuck on £4.99 in many outlets. This paved the way for our nest speaker Rehan Uddin from Torbay our host, he straight away tore through the prices in many outlets,” Is there anyone in this room that can tell me the cost of a chicken Tikka Masala, how much does it cost you to prepare” To my surprise not one person had a clear cut answer. Rehan broke down the cost of a chicken tikka masala, giving the house preparation cost; I was surprised, simply because I could not understand how many restaurants afford to sell it that cheap. To me this was like making an almost zero profit. Rehan added, “Guys we need to re-think our strategy in terms of costing, we need to move away from the old traditions of bringing in relatives as staff, most of these work at their own place because of the family connection. It is time for change and the change begins with all of us. We need to check our costs before we price, get staff that are ready to deliver and adapt to modern technology.” I said excellent, adapt to modern technology and stop looking at bringing in and employing relatives as these cannot give 100%.
Despite all this curry kings also need to change with times, move on from their old traditional ways .It is time for these traders to embrace the digital era by using social media, the web and invest in upgrading premises. They seem to have taken customers for granted yet when the slump comes they are quick to play the blame game. It’s not all about staffing there is more to it than that.
BRISTOL SOMALI WOMEN’S GROUP BSWG hope to provide services for the Somali community. Advice on health, child care, education, housing, homelessness and immigration, We intend to make a difference to these communities. Who are we? Bristol Somali Women’s Group has been established to assist and give a one to one advice to the Bristol Women Somailan Community. The organisation hopes to assist the so many in needs, while the organisation is originally intended for Somali women we hope to assist women from the BME community. Our main mission is to help break down barriers for BME Groups and especially the Somali Community in Bristol. We intend to be the first port of contact for marginalized groups and we try to impose the belief of self-help on our service users, by involving them in the projects which are being offered. By gaining this self-help, service user’s self-confidence and self-esteem grows enabling them to aspire to reach their goals, which they believe are attainable. Our aspirations for the future are: Growth will be a key focus of the organisation in the coming year. With growth will come more services and service users who will gain the skills and encouragement they need from the organisation, to change their lives and not become another statistic, in another deprived area. By Developing as an organisation, service users will be able to see a range of activities materialize in the area of mentoring programmes, youth projects, IT Clubs, parenting classes for new mothers, healthy eating sessions, to mention a few. Hopefully by growing and developing as an organisation, Bristol Somali Women’s Group will be hoping to work with other community groups in in the South West. Our intention is to encourage the Somailian women i9n business and community affairs to be able to integrate into Bristol and have the same accessibility to services that everyone else has in in Bristol. By working in partnership with service providers, voluntary and community groups, Bristol Somali Women’s Group will lead the way, by illustrating that marginalized communities can integrate into society and become part of the community at large. The group will strive to break down barriers in the area of language by holding ESOL Classes, in the area of prejudice by highlighting anti-discriminative practice and breakdown social exclusion by involving excluded groups in mentoring programmes, volunteering projects and training schemes which can help their future goals. We will also work with service providers to advice on immigration, housing, Health & education. We intend to begin to provide, a wide range of services and activities for Somali women, children, families and members from the BME Community. These activities meet the specific needs of a group that faces all the problems associated with social exclusion in an area of some of the highest deprivation in the country
The activities allow people to assimilate into their new roles and communities without having to face the daily problems of discrimination and inequality. Activities include: •
A drop in service in which women and children can come with their problems and receive assistance.
This includes benefits advice, help finding work and filling in application forms. •
An after school drop in and homework club for children
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We help with educational problems, providing assistance for children with their homework or arranging mentoring schemes that can take place at the centre.
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ESOL classes
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A health awareness programme.
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In the weekend we hope to introduce a lunch club for elderly members of the Somali Community with meals on wheels service for those who are housebound.
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Somali dance and arts & crafts for youngsters
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Or workshops to raise the awareness of the challenges face by Somali single mothers and their children.
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Deliver trainings in Strengthening families and communities parenting, how to write CVs and interview techniques and conflict understanding and Peace building.
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Sewing sessions
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Referral to specialist services.
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Women only advice (Fri 9.30am-4.30pm), drop-in (on appointment).
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Youth project to tackle drug and alcohol abuse.
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A play scheme during the school holidays
How to contact us: 122 Grosvenor Road, St Paul’s, Bristol BS2 8YA Telephone: 07931 917171 / 07398 503921 Email: BristolSomaliWomen@gmail.com
CHINESE NEW YEAR
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Some serious monkey business- It’s the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. This year the Chinese New Year was celebrated at the Bristol Museum. The event opened by the Bristol Lord Mayor Clare Campion Smith.
Som Chin Cam
The New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year. Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month. Welcome in the Year of the Monkey and celebrate Chinese New Year with spectacular traditional and contemporary performances, stalls, workshops and activities for all the family. A packed weekend of celebrations featured spectacular lion dancing performances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese dances, dressing up, arts and craft activities, live music and much more. A variety of family activities including mask-making, paper folding and storytelling will were offered, as well as opportunities to create lanterns and dragons, Not forgetting the giant pandas! Stalls throughout the museum will be featured elements of Chinese culture with tea-tasting, acupuncture, Qigong workshops and Chinese medicinal plants. There was tours of magnificent Eastern Art collection, a delicious Chinese inspired menu in the cafĂŠ and beautiful Chinese goods for sale in the shop. The Year of the Monkey started on 8 February 2016 and continued until 27 January 2017. According to the Chinese Zodiac, people born in the Year of the Monkey are intelligent, witty and mischievous. The next Year of the Monkey will be in 2028.
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SUDANESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CHINESE NEW YEAR Some serious monkey business- It’s the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. Chinese New Year was celebrated at the Bristol Museum. The event opened by the Bristol Campion Smith.
This year the Lord Mayor Clare
The New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year. SUDANESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF BRISTOL, SCAOB IS ACTIVE IN Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 THE FIELD OF OFFERING HELP AND ADVICE TO ITS MEMBERS WITH THE OBJECTIVE blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year OF INTEGRATING THEM INTO THE WIDER BRISTISH SOCIETY. IT ALSO RUNS instead of one month. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE EDUCATING THE WIDER BRITISH Welcome in the YearABOUT of the Monkey and celebrate Chinese New Year with traditional and contemporary performances, COMMUNITY SUDANESE CULTURE AND FOLKLORE ASspectacular WELL AS PROVIDE stalls,ENTERTAINMENT workshops and activities for all the family. AND GATHERING OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS MEMBERS. A packed weekend of celebrations featured spectacular lion dancing performances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese Thedressing Sudanese association Bristol won MTMmore. special recognition award. dances, up,community arts and craft activities,oflive music andthe much Dedicated to every member being a man woman and child of our fantastic community. A variety of family activities includingresilience, mask-making, paper folding and storytelling will were offered, as well as opportunities to create A community of self- sufficient, collectiveness and unity. lanterns and dragons, Not forgetting the giant pandas! The group has become the most amongst different community organisation Stalls throughout the museum willactive be featured elements of ethnic Chinese culture with tea-tasting,holding acupuncture, Qigong workshops and different almost monthly and organising awareness campaigns at these events. Chinese medicinal plants. There waswe tours of magnificent Eastern Art collection,ata Sudanese delicious Chinese inspired menu Recently attended an evening of entertainment community centre in in the café and beautiful Chinese goods for sale in theofshop. celebration international women day with guests and women of Sudan and Somalia andYear other communities. The of the Monkey started on 8 February 2016 and continued until 27 January 2017. According to the Chinese Zodiac, people born in the Year of the Monkey are intelligent, witty and mischievous. The Sudanese community centre has held open days at their Barton Hill centre. The Yeartoof the neighbours Monkey will befriends in 2028. The next aim was meet and of Sudanese community centre. Mohammed Elshariff speaking to our reporter said, “We had excellent open discussions with people who came into and outside the building. This is a start of ongoing cross communities events run by Bristol Sudanese community and steps to promote positive neighbourhood and community cohesion”..
SPECIAL FEATURE
Peri Peri Grill on Kingswood High Street has brought a sparkle for lovers of tasty grilled chicken with a range of some of the finest milkshakes in the city. Now in its third year Peri Peri has become a household name not only in the Hanham and Kingswood area but as far as Bristol University student’s halls on Park Street. Twice winners of the prestigious MTM Award, owners Shazia Riffett and Abdul Gaffar. Shazia & Abdul put their success on hard work and personalised customer service. The pair also strives for freshness and detailed quality in their food. Peri Peri has brought the difference that South Gloucestershire residents & those bordering the area have long wanted. The outlet has a good sitting area and ample parking at the rear and provides a free delivery service for up to a three mile radius. The Peri Peri chicken is freshly prepared with authentic herbs and spices and flame grilled. Some of the meat products are sourced from Halal approved outlets that are certified by recognised certification boards. Come and enjoy their new menus and mouth-watering grills. Open seven days a week from 12 pm till late Peri Peri personalised service only available in a community based family business.
www.radiomastfm.com
MTM AWARDS
WINNER 2014 2015
MTM AWARDS
South West Asian & Ethnic Minorities Awards We would like to express huge thanks to the Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, The Rt. Lord Mayor Clare Campion –Smith, Hon. Kerry McCarthy, MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The Sheriff and Deputy Mayor of Gloucester Councillor Jim Beeley, High Sheriff of Bristol Dr Ros Kennedy, past High Sheriffs Dr Shaheen Chaudhry JP, Peaches Golding OBE & Vice Chair of South Glos. Council, Councillor Katherine Morris, Councillor Peter Abraham, Councillor Ian Boulton, Prospective Mayoral Candidate - Marvin Rees, Superintendent Rhys Hughes of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Dr Razvan Constantinescu, Honorary Consul of Romania in Bristol, Mrs Cristina Orlando-Rossi, Honorary Consul of Italy in Bristol, Hfz. Zaheer Shabir, Sherrie Eugene, James Durie, Allan Pariss, Tennis Russell, Rasik Patel, Ileana Constantinescu, Joesph Joyce, Business West The Initiative, the Bristol Business community, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Wiltshire, BBC Radio Glos., BBC Radio Plymouth, BBC Points West, BCFM Radio, Ujima FM, local media, Sprint Print, YZ Designs, Bristol Marriott Hotel, City Centre. Nominees, Voters and all Sponsors for their support.
MTM AWARDS 2016 OFFICIAL LAUNCH THURSDAY 26TH MAY 2016 - 6PM THE CONSERVATORY @ THE BRISTOL MARRIOTT CITY CENTRE
Celebrating The Excellence Of Asian & Ethnic Minorities The MTM Awards is already established as the premier Asian & Ethnic Minorities event in the South West. Now in its fifth year and building on the success of MTM 2015 Awards, we are delighted to be able to continue to offer our stand-out awards night for 2016. Celebrating the essence of business and culture across our diverse, rich, and ethnic and minority communities. It is set to be a world-class awards ceremony honouring the South West’s brightest and best businesses and communities. The MTM Awards provide a perfect setting for networking in a uniquely cultural environment at the Bristol Marriott Hotel based in the heart of Bristol. The venue is transformed into a glittering gala evening, the only awards ceremony of this type in the South West, welcoming over 500 guests. The awards include all Asian and Ethnic communities and provide sponsors with the opportunity to engage with thriving business cultures, spanning international waters, as well as those on our door step. As an official partner you don’t just get ‘branding’ at the Gala Evening. Thanks to our inhouse marketing team and ownership of Mast The Magazine, our partners get an unrivalled sponsorship package that includes emails to our database of business and community executives, including social media and print marketing. You also get ‘branding’ at the MTM Awards Launch and Press Evening. This is a unique award ceremony that will put you and your company in front of potential customers and key influencers in business and community.
MTM 2015 Winners
CELEBRATING THE ESSENCE OF BUSINESS AND CULTURE ACROSS OUR DIVERSE, RICH, ETHNIC AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
There are six categories with 21 Awards up for grabs in 2016.
We are unrivalled in that we receive a remarkable number of nominations to the awards each year. Since inception in 2012 we hit an average of 200 nominations from big and small businesses, community organisations and people across the board in the South West.
A LETTER FROM AWARD WINNING, SAID ABDULLAHI.
Homes4 All I came to England as a refugee from Somalia; at a very young age, this was in 1989. I grew up and completed my high school in London then moved to Bristol in 1996 to join my sister. At the time the Bristol Somali community was very small but growing. There were better job opportunities in Bristol compared with London. I did all odd jobs then, cleaning, restaurants, cinemas laundrette and many others.
We advise and assist on housing and benefits although we don’t get funding form Bristol City Council for doing a lot of extra work with these people, we still do. We help people settle!
I joined Uncle Nazir Muhammad, a local businessman in 2003 as a security guard at the White Swan Hostel. This was a bed and breakfast for the Linden Housing group, the Linden Hotel and the Port View Hotel in Avon Mouth working 12hr shifts. In 2005 things stared to slow down so ‘uncle’ Nazir moved to social housing. His son and I started Social Housing for people on benefits in 2006. We would get referrals from Bristol City Council and house people on housing benefits. This was my first experience in housing.
We are a voice for the community. We house all of people as long as they can prove their case. We advice and give hope and a chance to those that have been denied one by other groups by branding them, to us all peoples derive to be given a chance and Homes 4 All is there to give them that chance and hope to shelter and decent housing.
Later I stared my own social housing company with two partners, Refugee Link. This was soon changed to All Nations in 2007. At All Nations we expanded and eventually had funding from Bristol City Council for supported housing. In 2011 I resigned from All Nations and set up Homes 4 all with Brian and Sue ( who sadly passes away ) leaving Brian and myself to continue with Homes 4 All. Homes 4 All deals with private letting and social housing. We expanded into Newport in 2014 and are currently concentrating on creating more housing for Bristol as the demand is high and with funding from Birmingham council we have good social housing in Birmingham including a hostel. Our staff are multicultural, we speak Arabic, Somali, some Swahili, Sudanese, Kurdish, Afghani. People think that we only deal with the Somali community which is wrong; we house all communities, especially those from the different ethnic backgrounds.
We are also great value for money with our rooms (for the social housing). We only charge 68-69 pound per week plus 10 pound for the service charge (electric and gas) so a lot of people prefer to come to us. Other housing associations do charge a lot more so people see the value with us.
I work on the frontline and I give credit to my team in the background especially Brian who keeps tab of administration and ensures we are on top in this competitive field. We get a lot of referrals from existing tenants. When you come to us you go onto a waiting list, when a room is available we sign you up. We don’t charge a deposit or advanced rent for anyone on benefits and some are not charged at all depending on their individual circumstances. All we ask is that you can prove you are on benefits and what you are claiming; Homes 4 All is there to help. We are proud to have won the MTM One Stop Service Award 2015 and for me to have been honoured a Special Recognition Award for my service to the Bristol community, Thank you Bristol, Thank you MTM Awards! Said Abdullahi. Winner MTM Special Recognition Award 2015
71-75, 76-82, 84 St. Marks Road Easton Bristol BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 9512257 71-75, 76-82, 84 St. Marks Road Easton Bristol BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 9512257
71-75, 76-82, 84 St. Marks Road Easton Bristol BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 9512257 established 1978 established 1978
BSM Spices milled BSM Spices milled & packed in the UK. & packed in the UK. BSM Spices milled & packed in the UK. BSM Spices milled Spicesin themilled &BSM packed UK. & packed in the UK.
71-75, 76-82, 84 St. Marks Road Easton Bristol BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 9512257 established 1978
71-75, 76-82, 84 St. Marks Road Easton Bristol BS5 6JH Tel: 0117 9512257
MTM
established 1978 AWARDS
established 1978
WINNER OF MTM WINNER SOUTH WEST 2012& 2014 ASIAN AWARD 2012 2014 2015
The delecious Deli and the shop together with their wholesale outlet sits in heart of Deli an ethnically vibrant community. Bristol Sweet Mart Thethedelecious and the shop together with their wholesale outletoffers sits highly specialized food items and aims to be a one stop shop in the heart of an ethnically vibrant community. Bristol Sweet Mart offers away the major supermarkets. you toenjoy the world highly from specialized food items and If aims be travelling a one stop shop and cooking different dishes from different regions then this is the place for you away from the major supermarkets. If you enjoy travelling the world The delecious Deli and the shop together with their wholesale outlet sits The delicious to come for ingredients and advise. We stock over 8000 different products and and cooking different dishes from different regions then this is the place for you in the heart of an ethnically vibrant community. 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www.sweetmart.co.uk
Specialist Fine Foods & Spices Specialist Fine Foods & Spices
People & Places From Shanti Niketan to St George Part 6 – Farewell to India As my Indian friends would often say, “All good things must come to an end.” And, so it was that, in June 2012, with heavy hearts, we returned to the UK. First we moved to Arborfield, near Reading, and then to St George in Bristol. We love being in Bristol – it is a vibrant town with much that is beautiful about it – but we miss our life in India. In this series of articles, I’ve written about places, things and, in a couple of cases, issues – leprosy, education. But when I reflect on what I miss about our life in India, I keep coming back to people. I don’t mean just our Indian friends, although of course we miss them, but people in general. To begin with there are so many of them, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Many visitors to India find the shear number of people and the consequent lack of any concept of ‘personal space’ to be intimidating – visitors often talk about ‘poverty’ as being what challenges them but I think that it is more about the fact that, wherever one goes, one Article by Nigel Williams, Black Iris Images
is surrounded by people, most of whom are poor by Western standards but are by no means starving. I wouldn’t pretend that absolute poverty is not an issue, of course it is, but it is of interest that visitors find the cities more intimidating than the countryside, yet it is in the countryside where deprivation is at its worst. Hence my point, I think that it is more the intimate contact (with the poor) that is the issue, than is poverty itself. I found that the bustle, colour, chaos, odours, sheer crush, of having so many people around one became addictive. In the throngs of people in Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk, I often found myself smiling, because there was so much going on and so many things to see – it was never dull. And many people, even those with very little in terms of material wealth, were remarkably optimistic, looking for ways to improve the lot of their families and trying to ensure that the next generation had better opportunities than they themselves had had. In my article about education, I mentioned the growth of low-cost private schools in rural areas of India. This is symptomatic of a more general truth – many, possibly most, Indians see the education of their children as being their principal responsibility. Most of the relatively poor people I knew invested the majority of their income in their children’s education and the competition to get into the best state schools and, for the lucky few, universities was intense.
With so many people, there was, of course, always a huge amount going on: playing Holi with the Ghurkas, covered in dye and freezing from all the water that was thrown about; the smog that followed the Diwali fireworks; attending the parade in Chandni Chowk to mark Guru Nanak’s birthday; the list could go on forever. We experienced everything we could. In doing so, we were often in vast crowds of people but I can’t remember a time when we felt threatened (although, I must admit that the attitude of many Indian men to women left a great deal to be desired, to put it mildly). Of course, there was often someone who would be only too delighted to relieve you of your money, if you were naïve enough, but we found that the vast majority of people just wanted to help. I would advise my houseguests that, when in New Delhi Railway Station, a favourite spot for the hustler trying to relieve a naïve tourist of his money, they should keep their wits about them but invariably be polite – it is much more likely that the gentleman who approaches you, when you are looking a little confused, simply wants to help you, than that he wants to relieve you of some of your money. I confess that, even today, I feel ‘homesick’ for Delhi, despite its choking smog, interminable traffic jams, debilitating climate. I miss the colour, the excitement and everything from the people to the monuments and from the 5 star hotels to the Gali Paranthe Wali. But I will not miss the bureaucracy! I’ve often thought that the only thing holding the Indian economy back is governance, both central and state. Our departure from India exemplified both the frustration and the pleasure one can get from dealing with Indian officialdom. We had an issue with my youngest daughter’s visa (due to her having had to change from one type of visa to another) which, bizarrely, meant that she was not allowed to leave the country. So, my wife flew back to England and I stayed on with my daughter (in a very smart hotel, so no real hardship), to sort things out. It only took a couple of days in one of those many, stereotypical, Indian government offices, with con artists at the gate, offering to ‘guide’ you, and infinite piles of paper files in the offices. And, after hours of frustration, we were looked after by a government official who was charming, kindly and clearly mildly amused by our discomfiture.
The next day, we left. I watched “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” on the plane and had a huge lump in my throat.
Fashionista Clothing in Ghana People in Ghana take pride in how they dress. There is often a gender and generational divide in clothing in Ghana. The older generation tends to wear more traditional clothes, while the younger generation tends to wear the universal costume of youth: jeans and a t-shirt. Women wear more traditional clothing than men. However, compared to other parts of the world, Ghanaians take pride in continuing to wear their traditional clothing, even with the influx of Western styles. In everyday life women wear a long skirt and a short sleeved top, often in bright colours and bold patterns. Long dresses are worn, on special occasion and 2016 has seen the long slit back for the fashionista of Ghana. This is complimented with head wraps that match or complement their outfit. Men often wear a long smock over pants. These long smocks or tunics might be striped or feature some traditional symbols. It is especially worn by men in the north of Ghana. The ever popular plastic sandal is the most common shoe, though dress shoes are worn for business and sneakers are seen as well. People traveling to Ghana should remember that it can get very hot there. Women should know that many women keep their thighs and midriffs covered. Tank tops are generally okay, but make sure you are fully covered if you don’t want a lot of extra attention. The traditional cloth associated with Ghana is called the Kente. It is a mix of cotton and silk and is worn for special occasions. THE KENTE CLOTH: GHANA`S ASHANTI CULTURAL HERITAGE ...Kente cloth is produced by the Akan community of Ghana and originally worn mainly by Ashanti kings .It is highly respected and to this day today every 1st new design made must be offered to the king first. If he declines, then it can be sold. The Kente has been accepted by Ghanaian at large to be their official cloth of choice.
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Chilli, Lime and Garlic Mogo These East African-style Mogo Chips are a childhood favourite. It’s the kind of food we’d prepare if we have guests coming over because it’s so simple to throw together. I’ve also never met anyone who doesn’t love fluffy mogo. These East African-style Mogo Chips are a childhood favourite. It’s the kind of food we’d prepare if we have guests coming over because it’s so simple to throw together. I’ve also never met anyone who doesn’t love fluffy mogo.
Chilli, Lime and Garlic Mogo
Mogo (a.k.a Cassava) is a staple carb in Africa, in many parts of South America where it is known as Yucca Countless Indian restaurants of East African origin all over the UK serve it up in all kinds of ways, popular choices being Tandoori and Indo-Chinese style (with soy sauce).
1kg fresh or frozen mogo (also known as cassava or yucca) – peeled if fresh
What I love about mogo is its earthy flavour, which truly comes to life when it’s gently steamed or boiled.
6 large cloves garlic, crushed
Aside from the fried or grilled with a sprinkling of salt kind of mogo, this is probably the simplest mogo recipe. It has very few ingredients but is loaded with flavour. Heaps of garlic, chilli and lime make it the perfect party recipe to share with friends and family – there’s hardly any prep involved and everyone can just tuck in from a large platter. For the perfect Sunday afternoon snack, serve with a cup of hot masala chai. I’ll share my recipe for that in the next post. This is going to be delicious.
Serves 6 Ingredients
70g salted butter 1 tbsp sunflower oil 4-5 chillies (more or less according to taste) ½ tsp red chilli flakes 2 tbsp cumin seeds Salt, to taste Juice of 2 limes, zest of 1 Chopped coriander to garnish Lime wedges, to garnish Method 1. Chop the mogo in to bite sized chips. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the mogo. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain in a colander and allow to cool and steam to evaporate for 15-20 minutes. 2. Heat the butter and oil in a large wok (the oil will stop the butter burning). Add the cumin seeds and garlic. Cook for 1 minute before adding the chillies, mogo and salt. 3. Allow to cook, tossing every 2 minutes until golden all over. Finish with the lime juice and zest. 4. Garnish with fresh coriander and lime wedges. Serve with masala chai and enjoy with friends.
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ENTERTAINMENT JAZ DHAMI High Heels te Nachche is the second Bollywood release for Jaz Dhami of 2016, the song has been recreated by the Meet Bros and features the original rap by Yo Yo Honey Singh. Jaz Dhami made his Bollywood debut with ‘Humne pee rakhi hai’ in January for the movie Sanam Re. Jaz said having Kareena Kapoor Khan performing to his song is an honour, “When I was asked if I’d be happy to have Kareena Kapoor performing to my song - I said yes straight away! She’s a class apart, and she’s done a great job in the movie and my song”
KADN IS BACK.. To many, he’s known as Junai Kaden but after a break from the industry, the artist has rein-vented himself with a new name and an exhilarating new sound. ‘Jay Kadn’ has returned to the scene with an exciting announcement about his next steps The British Pakistani singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalisthas joined forces with one the UK’s leading and most progressive record companies, Kiss Records. 2016 has already been a massive year for Kadn but impressively, he has now landed a major deal with world renowned Indian film distribution house Yash Raj Films. This collaboration signals Kadn’s move into Bollywood and comes after six successful years in theBritish Asian music industry.
SHAAN & VERINDER London lads ‘Shaan & Verinder’ first venture as a duo was the brilliant ‘Yaar Nachda’ featuring the vocals of the well-seasoned Nirmal Sidhu lyrics by the outstanding lyricist Vijay Dhammi. ….Following on from the amazing success of their first single ‘Yaar Nachda’ ft Nirmal Sidhu, super-producers Shaan & Verinder are back with a second helping to whet our appetite even further! Teaming up this time with the brilliant Bhinda Jatt, the London boys bring us the much anticipated single ‘Truck’. The duo embarked on a adventure to showcase a new generation of music displaying versatility and variation whilst upholding thetraditional elements that Asian music has become accustomed to.
SIKH BAISAKHI FESTIVAL Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is the biggest festival of Punjab. Sing, dance and thank God, the harvest festival of Punjab, Baisakhi defines them all. Baisakhi is one of the most important and auspicious festival for the Sikh Community. It is celebrated across the country as well as world with a lot of enthusiasm and spirit. Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is celebrated as the harvest festival in the Northern part of India especially in the Sikh community. Each year, Baisakhi is celebrated around 13th or 14th of April. Sikhism was established by their first Guru, Shri “Guru Nanak Dev”. The Holy Scripture “Guru Granth Sahib” describes his teachings. The real importance of the festival can be best understood by knowing the real story behind. The 10th Guru of the Sikh community, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji addressed the Sikh community in the year 1699 and established the Khalsa. The Khalsa (Sikhism) was established to protect the mankind from the atrocities of Mughals. In his addressing, he asked, whether the people were ready to sacrifice their life. Initially, hearing this statement, none of the people emerged from the crowd, but a young boy willingly said that he was ready for the sacrifice. By seeing his courage, 4 more men emerged out of the crowd. Since then, these 5 were named as the “Panj Pyare” (the beloved one’s), the ones who could die for the sake of humanity.
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE DAY International Mother Tongue Day‌.in the South West the Bristol, Bath & West Bangladesh Association marks this auspicious day with Flag raising & wreath laying ceremony at College Green Park Street Bristol. Attending this year’s ceremony was the Lord Mayor Cllr Clare Campion-Smith, Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Mary Prior, High Sheriff Dr Ros Kennedy, Members of Parliament Kerry McCarthy, Karin Smyth and chair Bangladesh Association, Bristol, Bath & West Mr Fakrul Ali. This annual event is organised by Bangladesh Association & Cllr Mahmadur Khan- Bristol City Council. Cllr. Khan looks back at the start of the campaign to have Bangla as the National language of then East Pakistan, today Bangladesh. International Mother Tongue Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages. Language Movement Day has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of students including the students of the University of Dhaka were brutally killed by the Pakistani police in Dhaka during Bengali Language Movement protests. The story of Bangladesh Association Bristol like most of the Bangladeshi Association around the world is similar. The Bengali community were members of Pakistan Association in Bristol until the separation of East Pakistan after the liberation war that gave birth to the State of Bangladesh in 1971. One of the founding pioneers of the association Abdul Wahab MBE refers himself as Bhasha Sonogram Shonac (a campaigner of the Language Movement), who campaigned to make Bengali a state language of Pakistan.
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Language Service UK Limited High Quality Translation and Interpreting at Low-costs Suite 2 (Ground Floor) Paul Davis House, Lodge Causeway Trading Estate Lodge Causeway, Fishponds Bristol BS16 3JB
Language Services UK is a Interpreting and Translation Service in Bristol that offers professional translation, transcription and interpreting services to UK based clients. We provide interpreters and translators in almost all world languages. Our interpreting service include Face to Face Interpreting, Voice Overs interpreting, Telephone Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting, Simultaneous or Conference Interpreting and Legal or Court interpreting. Our Translation Service include Document Translation, Technical Translation, Financial Documents Translation, Business Translation, Court / Legal Document Translation, Proof reading. We also provide Transcription websites translation and cross cultural training & awareness services. Professional service is only a click or call away Telephone: 0117 3290610 and 0117 3822945 Mobile: 07915177068 Telephone Interpreting Only: 0333 700 5785 Fax: 0333 800 5785 For General Enquiries email: INFO@LSUK.ORG For Interpreting Enquiries email: INTERPRETING@LSUK.ORG For Translation Enquiries email: TRANSLATION@LSUK.ORG
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Trauma Awareness - Rissa Mohabir (Producer/Writer, Trauma Awareness Productions) is currently creating an innovative series about the impact of war on women. Preserving traditional storytelling methods from collectivist cultures, Somalia Women’s Group share an evocative account of seeking safety and sanctuary followed with group narrative prose from Refugee Women of Bristol sharing their experiences of isolation, faced by refugee women here in Bristol. A Showcase of spoken word, animation and stills, followed with panel discussion will be shown at Watershed Media & Cinema at 3-4.30 pm on June 26th 2016 as part of Refugee Week. Alex Raikes Director of SARI (Stand against Racial Inequality) is a guest speaker in support of the topic of exclusion and isolation within the community. Further information please contact: rissa. mohabir@gmail.com
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Hazrat Bilal Prayers - The Hazrat Bilal Centre project is a relocation project initiated by Islami Darasgah Bristol to build an Islamic community centre, which also includes a Mosque. Currently Islami Darasgah Bristol premises are at 109 Lower Cheltenham Place, Montpelier, Bristol, BS6 5LA and the Hazrat Bilal Centre site is less than a half mile away. Islami Darasgah Bristol is a registered charity (reg. No 260804) and is renowned for being the 1st Mosque in Bristol - opening in 1967. Hazrat Bilal Centre will give the community additional space and also help to promote traditional use of the facility as at the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) the Mosque was a hub for the whole community where numerous activities held. Friday 31st March saw the congregation converge for the 1st historic Friday prayer that was concluded with an impromptu fund raiser that realized close to ÂŁ35,000.00 in pledges. To donate please get in touch with project director Tahir Mahmood on: info@hazratbilal.org.mohabir@gmail.com
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Green Capital Year ends - as Bristol steps up its sustainability mission. It doesn’t stop here!It doesn’t stop here! Those was the message delivered loud and clear when the end of Bristol’s European GreenCapital Year was celebrated with a closing ceremony in front of an audience of 1,000 people at the city’s Colston Hall. As Mayor George Ferguson put it: “The most important aspect is that it is seen as a catalyst for the sort of changes we need to make so that your children and grandchildren can enjoy a city that is healthier, happier and wonderfully liveable.”
Lord Mayors Medal - The 2015 Lord Mayor’s Medal award ceremony was held at The Mansion House on 16 March.
Some of Bristol’s unsung heroes and heroines were officially acknowledged and publicly thanked for all their work by The Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Clare Campion-Smith. Abdul Raoof Malik of Pak Butchers was honoured for his community work. Abdul has twice won The MTM Man of the Year Award & Community Leader Award.
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn on St Mark’s Road. St Mark’s road Bristol witnessed one of the craziest press activities when Jeremy Corbyn visited the area.Quoting some of the local & nation press, “We have never seen such a following before”. Jeremy was accompanied by prospective Bristol Mayoral candidate Marvin Rees, local councillor Afzaal Shah and different community leaders including the newly formed Bristol Somali women’s Group team.
Keith Vaz. Keith Vaz chair of the Home Affairs Select committee meets with the Bristol business community. Mr Vaz is the longest serving Asian member of parliament since 1987. The event was organised by Councillor Afzaal Shah Hussein of Easton.
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West In Europe Alliance Bristol with Dr Razvan Constantinescu Dr. Razvan says it does not stop here, “we are strongly campaigning to keep Britain in Europe as that is the best for this beautiful country”. Dr Razvan is the Romanian consulate in Bristol.
Let’s Rent arrives in Easton... - Winners
of The MTM Best One Stop Service Award 2014, the group has opened a shop at the Heart of the ethnic community on Stapleton Road Easton.Butchers was honoured for his community work. Abdul has twice won The MTM Man of the Year Award & Community Leader Award.
Muslims4Bristol - The project is the brainchild of Mohammed Elshariff of the Bristol Sudanese Community Group. The group raised £1,888.74, collected by local Mosques in Bristol in response to assisting flood-victims inYorkshire/Lancashire; the money was deposited into Al Imdaad Foundation’s bank account for immediate distribution.
Bristol Sudanese Community - The Sudanese writer Lila Abuilaa at UWA last evening delivering a lecture on Sudanese literature part of theAfrican week. Chair of the Sudanese Community Group Mohammed Elshariff has been active in eventsbringing the community together.
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Easton Mosque Extension - It’s finally happening for the faithfuls of the Easton Mosque, the long awaited
extensions of the mosque to accommodate the ever overflowing congregatation. Initiated by current chair and his servants of God, Abdul Raoof Malik the project is expected to be complete later in the year, though business is as usual at the mosque, prayer facilities are still open.
Peace March - Milad ul- Nabi celebrations were held to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) with aprocession from Easton Jamia Mosque to Madani Mosque Fishponds.
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West Act For Somalia - Mohammed Cantoobo Ahmed, the force behind community group Act For Somalia has been actively involved in community affairs both in the UK and Somalia .The group hosted author of The World’s Most DangerousPlace James Ferguson in Bristol recently.
Peninah Achieng-Kindberg -
A community activist and a front runner of Kenyans in Bristol, Peninah is always at the right place at the right time.
Leisure Cafe Watch all your favourite games here!
A meeting point fir the Sudanese and wider communities Leisure Cafe has been run by Abdullah for the past two years. Immigrating form Khartoum, Sudan Abdullah has been in the UK for just four years and in this time has already gained recognition for his business at The MTM Awards 2015. ‘It’s an inspiration to be recognised at MTM 2015 for the hard work I have put into the Business. We have gone from strength to strength and are doing well. I also feel the Cafe has become a social meeting point for my community, as well as giving the communities we live with a chance to experience Sudanese culture and food. Everyone is welcome here and I love to see all the different people coming together’.
Menu Specialise in a mix of North and East African foods alongside Middle Eastern cuisineki. Sudan Fried Lamb East African fired fish Fuul - Angera Fried Rice - Sukar East African style Pasta Mint Teas -Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte
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DIVERSE DOORS OPEN DAY 2016 This is an annual event, offering the unique opportunity to visit a range of places of worship and meet people from different faiths. It aims to give a flavor of the many faiths in the city of Bristol. This year a total of 14 places of worship opened doors, 6 of the 14 venues formed part of a designated ‘Faith Trail’, each representing a different faith. At each of these six core venues there were opportunities to participate in an issue based discussion and to ask questions. Bristol Multi-Faith Forum Development Officer Lily Khandker was on hand to guide participants through the trail.
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Homes4 All Homes 4 All Ltd, established in 2011, is an award-winning specialist housing and training provider with offices in Bristol and Birmingham. We manage over 300 tenants and 100 learners every year delivering a high level of quality and service. Housing – Provision of fully supported accommodation in Bristol and Birmingham. Our support services are culturally sensitive, available across all tenures and provided as part of our Clients Occupancy Agreement. Employment support – Specialist provision of coaching/ classroom training/ work placement programmes with multilingual support. A key component of our employment provision is the establishment of volunteer work placements with local organisations.
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