28 The Magazine
PROFILE Abdul achieves Success Against All Odds
FACE TO FACE A Story of a Refugee - Said Abdullahi
DEEPAVALI The festival of light
#MTM2015 Countdown to Glittering Gala Evening
ENTERTAINMENT Introducing AK SOUND
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28
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…another season and more community celebrations.
After the festivities of Navratri and a colourful Diwali we give you an insight of this great Indian celebration. We pay tribute to a friend of the Magazine Mukhtyar Singh Khalsa, a true community champion. This is award season for the South West, MTMs are finally here, December the 20th from 6:00 pm at The Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre. A Glittering Gala Awards presentation evening with exquisite dining and great multi-cultural entertainment. We have had our share of attending events in the region and thank you to all that have hosted the magazine. Kalpna’s 91 Ways launch of the Peace Café at The Kitchen was an afternoon to remember. A full house attendance and beautiful real food. As we are approaching the festive season we ask all to remember those that need assistance during this time, donations to food banks, visits to homes of the elderly and sharing with friends, neighbours & families.
YZ DESIGNS
Our cover this edition is Abdul Gani Ismail Majothi, a success story of refugees fleeing dictatorial leaders and war-torn countries.
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PROFILE:
ABDUL GANI ISMAIL Abdul Gani Ismail one of the success story of Bristol. Having arrived in UK with his parents & siblings after the Idi Amin Asian exodus of Uganda in 1972, soft spoken Abdul is the face of St Marks Road Bristol. St Marks Road is the heart of Bristol’s ethnic community bubbling with businesses & diversity.
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WINN WO MI
He has been chair of Easton Traders for over 10 years, a founding executive of Bristol East-side Traders (BEST), sits on the board of Colston Girls School as governor and is a director member of Asian Arts Agency. We had an opportunity to sit with Abdul at his renowned world foods mini –market, Bristol Sweetmart. A: I was born in Narok near Maasai Mara Reserve, always loved and played with animals. My uncle Hussien taught me a lot about fishing, camping and generally living in the wild. He also taught me how to repair vehicles at his garage giving me first hand mechanical knowhow. This experience has made me an active person all my life. Uganda was a wonderful, beautiful green country with lovable people and good for business (once called the pearl of Africa). My life would have been wonderful there had it not been for the ruthless leader Idi Amin. Q: What are your early memories of the first time you heard Amin say “Asians need to pack up and go?” A: When I first heard it, I thought it was a joke. Later when it sank in, I felt very sorry for my hard working father and mother who were going to lose everything and start a new life in a strange country – England with little spoken English and not having travelled much.
Q: You lived in Iganga; give us a brief of that town. A: I lived in Iganga and studied in Jinja. Iganga was a small town with good businesses and well kept, it was known as the source of the Nile. Jinja is known for the Owen Falls Dam, providing electricity to neighbouring countries. Industries, shops and schools thrived well in this second largest town in Uganda. Q: What was schooling like? A: I enjoyed schooling and was ready to pursue my further education in university. All this got disrupted with the 1972 expulsion of Asians which was a reality. Uganda suffered a lot with this sudden explosion and loss of industrialists, educationists and people of massive knowledge and talent. Coming to the UK, it was cold, wet and strange. I still remember that November 2nd 1972. We as a family and the Asians were very grateful to the English people for helping and accepting us to settle. This eased the burden off the traumatic last few days before leaving Uganda. Q: Your late father as mentioned earlier had little knowledge of English and your mother had known how difficult it was for the family in a new environment knowing the head of the family is as naïve to this new country as you all were. A: Idi Amin took away all my father’s possessions and wealth but not his knowledge in business. He started a small shop here on St. Mark’s Road, Easton, Bristol. The rents were cheap at £12.00 a month. He saw a gap in the market
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WINNER 2012 /2014 WORLD FOODS MINI MARKET
for ethnic goods and foods. My parents worked very hard working very early mornings to late nights. The shop was an Indian take-away and selling Indian sweets and groceries. We four brothers Saleem, Yunas, Rashid and myself joined later and so did my sister Hamida. Q: What was it like for the five of you in beginning? A: Life was very difficult with long working hours, no heating in the shop but it was still sweet to be all together. Soon we grew much bigger and today we have over 60 people working fulla and parttime. Q: Today BSM(Bristol Sweetmart ) is an Institution, take us through the years to this day. A: We are an oversized community based corner shop, we cater for our loyal customers, restaurant owners and the general public who like to travel all around exploring different cuisines.
We are lucky now that our younger generation have stepped to jointly run the business. This has injected young minds and enthusiastic brains to take this business to another level. My younger brother Rashid and his wife Tehseen launched the Deli site in 2009. This has given our brand another land mark. The Deli serves authentic East African Indian cooking. This is a style that no other party does in this part of the UK. Saleem looks after the fruit and vegetable department which supplies fresh green and fruit on a daily basis. Yunas handles the admin side of the business. My sister Hamida assists in the wholesale business which now supplies over 160 restaurants. My wife Farida and sister in law Shoney oversee the main shop, this includes customer care and heping in the kitchen. Rashid has the overall mandate which helps me to pursue my long lost hobbies of photography, mountaineering, white water rafting and travelling. Q: talking about travelling, how many countries have you so far travelled to? A: I have visited close to 87 countries all across the world and in my passion for mountaineering; I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the world, which is extremely cold at the summit above cloud level. This is one of the mountains I have climbed including base camp Everest. My next mission is Mount Fuji in Japan.
Bristol Sweetmart have won many accolades over the years, in 2012 they won the MTM Award for the Best World Foods Mini Market an award they retained again at the MTM 2014 Awards. They have been nominated for the third year running for the same award with Abdul being nominated for MTM Man of The Year Award 2015 & Bristol Sweetmart nominated for MTM Business of the Year Award 2015.
Q: Looking at your busy calendar year, how do you manage? A: I have reduced my working hours, delegated responsibility and introduced the younger makes of the family into the business. None of these would have been achieved without the unconditional family support and love, especially my wife Farida who has through the years stood by me in business and in my passion of fulfilling my hobbies. We are a very close knit family that discusses and implements ideas and projects together. This has been our success and we do this because of the upbringing and grooming by our dear parents who initiated and started this business. We still have cooked breakfast and lunches together where meetings are held amicably, thus giving all of us an opportunity to share ideas and look back at a day’s happenings. This has proven to be the success of the team working together. Q: What is the future for Bristol Sweet Mart?
Q: Are you planning to release your own branded products?
A: We hoping to make the business interesting by introducing a wider choice of spices, foods from the world and expand our range of organic and whole foods. We have developed our online store and currently are looking at exploiting the web which is the way forward so that our brands can be accessible on the internet. We stock over 9000 items and are still expanding our business.
A: Yes we are thinking of installing new premises with a packaging plant. Our products are proven, trusted and reputable over the years. Q: Thank you Abdul A: Thank you for having me.
STAND AGAINST RACISM & INEQUALITIES (SARI) - DO YOU WANT TO BE IN OUR GANG? SARI is an organisation that stands up for those who are suffering from injustice. Most of us share that common feeling of wanting to be treated fairly and expecting to have a right to fair and equal treatment in our everyday lives. I also live by the Golden Rule: ‘Treat others as you would want to be treated’. Yet there are some people out there that don’t seem to have got the message. Therefore we need to stand together as communities to stand up and shout out, for ourselves and our children, that we are ready to fight injustice and inequality wherever we find it.
Fighting injustice on our own is hard – no matter how strong we are. That’s why standing together gives us strength and support to beat unfair treatment wherever we find it. SARI is here for you. As a long standing , leading charity organisation fighting for equality, our aim is to eradicate inequality in Bristol and the surrounding areas. A big goal – YES. However we feel that we need to aim high. Racism and inequality is wrong – it is against our human values – so we feel that we need to do all we can to stamp it out – and however far we get we will hand that baton on to the next generation..
So how can you be part of our gang? If you have been a victim then call on us and we will be there for you. You will find SARI staff waiting to lead you through the mire and devastation that inequality can bring and support you to overcome the issue surrounding you. We care deeply for all our clients and are there for everyone in the community. Many of our clients decide that at the end of their case they want to give something back. You can do that by becoming a volunteer – you don’t have to even have been a client. If you have skills and time that you feel that you can offer SARI then let us know. Many of our volunteers have enjoyed it so much they have gone on to become full time members of staff. We have a multinational staff team which makes for an incredible working atmosphere.
VISIT US AT OUR SARI STALL – WE ATTEND ALMOST EVERY FESTIVAL – SO COME AND VISIT OR SAY HELLO AT OUR SARI OFFICES. COLLECT A SARI BADGE AND WEAR IT WITH PRIDE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR US. For those that feel they want to get more involved then you can also become a SARI member. Some of these members have also gone on to sit on the SARI board of trustees who oversee the running of the organisation. It is hard work and takes real dedication – but the reward of knowing that what we do makes a difference is one of the most satisfying feelings you can get. So come and join our gang and sign up to getting rid of racism and inequality… it will be great to see you. From all at SARI Esther Deans MBE Chair of SARI’s Board of Trustees
DEEPAWALI IN BRISTOL. One of the most significant festivals in Indian culture, Diwali, Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. The festival is celebrated for a variety of reasons, although the main theme which runs throughout is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. To celebrate, houses are decorated with candles and colourful lights and huge firework displays are held while families feast and share gifts. The festival, which coincides with the Hindu New Year, celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The actual day of Diwali is traditionally celebrated on the festival’s third day. The festival usually falls between the middle of October and the middle of November, although this is decided upon by the Hindu lunar calendar. While each faith has its own reason to celebrate the festival, one of the most popular stories told is the legend of Lord Rama and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom in northern India from exile after defeating the demon king Ravanna in the 15th century BC.
In Bristol the festival is celebrated at the Bristol Hindu Temple on Church Road. Originally a church building, The Hindu Temple was founded in 1974 by members of the Hindu community in the city who had fled Uganda in the early 1970s. Together group refugees from Uganda joined hands and contribute £100.00 each to begin the process of acquiring a place of worship. The temple was opened on the 28th of July 1981.The founding committee was led by Haribhai Joshi an ex-teacher from Uganda. Today the Hindu temple remains the pillar of the Bristol Hindu community. Speaking to Mast Chair Rasik Patel who is one of the founding members and plays an active role in the day to day running of the temple said, “this temple is our pride, it is our landmark, we came here from Uganda with nothing after been expelled by the Amin regime, together we contributed the little we had and bought this place. We hope to keep in going and do not intend to move to another location, it holds too many memories”. The blessings at the opening were conducted by Moraji Bapu, a respected Guru from India at the invitation of the Bristol Hindu community. Speaking during the Diwali and New Year celebrations at the temple chair Rasik said, “ there is no reason to move the Mandir(temple) to another location, where it stands is historic for the Hindu community, what the community need is space for a community centre for events”
COURTESY OF:
BATTLING THE CURRY CRISIS Is Immigration the real issue affecting the industry and if it is, will the new government in place is it going to get any easier over the next five years. The Curry Kings are sceptical. 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. 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. As per the latest figures the curry business is worth £4.1 billion to the UK’s economy with the nations favourite dish has been Chicken Tikka Masala for a decade. With changing times hungry consumers now have more choice than ever before and people have started to vote with their feet. 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 non-EU 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 Europe and good apprentices hard to come by.
The Home Office currently requires that all Indian immigrants working as chefs must be able to speak English, be educated to NVQ level four with five years’ experience at a postgraduate level, and be paid a minimum salary of £28,260. This sounds quite good as it guarantees a decent pay for these curry specialist who otherwise have been ‘milked’ by the curry lords of UK, sadly the issue of education is a norm, as many of the best chefs don’t have any formal education. “Some of the very skilled people don’t even speak English.
This leaves us with the big Question: Are we saying we can’t bring in top skills?” Speaking to Curry House entrepreneurs, they had this to say, “There are other details in the new rules to the Home Office requirement, which we find ‘a joke’ - one of which is-“Any restaurant that does takeaways isn’t eligible for getting chefs in from outside. Tell me a restaurant that doesn’t do takeaways, unless they’re in Park Lane or God knows where, so only 30 or so restaurants out of 8,000 are eligible, this is beyond a joke. Whoever made that decision needs to put himself in our shoes.” It is about time both parties sat down and addressed this issue
before this industry that benefits the exchequer falls to pieces. We have seen the pubs close by the day in this country simply because of the lax alcohol selling rules at newsagents and cheap booze at the big superstores that has led people to shun that English tradition of going to the local pub which served as a meeting spot for communities. This is also happening to the locally run take-away, whereby the big players are now slowly creeping into residential zones to push out the community take-away joint. The other issue curry entrepreneurs need to address is the treatment of expatriates brought in especially from Bangladesh and India. These people are treated like secret SLAVES in our curry houses: Lured to our shores with promises of riches - then double-crossed by bosses who trap them in twilight of poverty and fear. To millions of migrants, Britain is a land of plenty - but, once here, many are brutally maltreated by their own countrymen. Some curry house workers that have been brought in from countries like Bangladesh 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 they are forced to lead this life not only to pay back the monies borrowed to come to UK but support their poor families too. These are not stories of illegal immigration or, in many cases, of premeditated law-breaking. They did not arrive in the UK secreted in the back of a lorry or carrying a false passport. He came quite openly and with the correct permissions. But like a number of other ‘invisible workers’ promises made back home in Bangladesh turned out to be false. The riches and long-term security for which his family pawned their farm were a lie. Many are now in a limbo, always on the run and unable to return home without burdening the disaster his British adventure has already visited upon the family he left behind. Sadly the end for some has been tragic. 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 being the preferred destination. Many Bangladeshi migrants who come to the UK come from the Sylhet area of the country. Of the estimated 300,000-plus strong British-Bangladeshi population is that as many as 95 per cent were born or have roots in the region of Sylhet, a former British Raj hill station. Money sent home by workers abroad - largely in the UK - was estimated to benefit Sylhet by close to £3.02 billion at one time.
Glass office blocks and large villas in a style quite out of keeping with the Bengali tradition are usually signs of their owner’s success abroad. The promise of such riches is what draw many to either pawn or borrow huge sums to come work here in the hope of bagging these riches. Often these immigrants come face to face with reality once they arrive and are taken to places to live, these are rooms above the restaurants with a single bath/toilet sharing with four people or more in a single room where in a four roomed hose you could have up to twelve people all from different families living together at time sleeping on the floor with mattresses. Wages promises never match what was expected and if one queried he goes into the bad books of the bosses and once the visa expires the real trouble begin. In most cases they are told that the Home Office has refused extension as this may not be case, the restaurantuers simply wanted to sell my work permit place to another family.’ This leaves to a peripatetic life, working at restaurants without valid papers. The ‘invisible’ status means they is paid a pittance sometimes working just for food - and is always on the move. ‘The longest time some have had work is five weeks, More often they are without work thus going hungry if not given food by other countrymen still at work. Listening to the stories of these people in the trade at times makes me wonder, why are restaurateurs up in arms with the immigration law when they know too well what goes on in the trade with some unscrupulous traders, I believe it is about time that the majority who are trading clean and abiding by both the labour and immigration laws name and shame these curry kings that are in this vicious circle of modern day slavery. This would help rejuvenate this multi-billion industry; it is only a handful that is tarnishing the good name of Britain’s favourite – South Asian curries.
The Home Office could ‘Legalise those who are here rather than hand out new licences.’ This would ease the shortage of chefs and the unemployment rate in this community (among the highest of any immigrant group already), though, the Home Office would argue, an amnesty, would reward those who break the immigration rules and would only encourage further illegal working in the future.’ The maximum penalty for those using illegal labour will be doubled to £20,000. 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.
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
established 1978 established 1978
WINNER OF MTM SOUTH WEST ASIAN AWARD 2012 & 2014
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91 WAYS Bristol’s first International Peace Café opened on 21st November at The Kitchen on Silver Street. The ground-breaking event introduced real food and flavours from our diverse communities across the city. The event provided a relaxed space to talk, hear stories from people from different backgrounds, in its aim to build greater understanding between different cultures. The first pop up café showcased the incredible flavours of Syria, Sudan, Russia and Iran among others. Amongst those that packed the house were Bristol Mayor George Ferguson & The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Clare Campion-Smith. An afternoon that celebrated Bristol’s rich cultural diversity by eating authentic food – not widely available in Bristol – and listen to the stories that surround why the authentic dishes are meaningful to those making it. The lunchtime event offered a fresh perspective and a human face to far-flung countries, some of which are in the midst of terrible conflict. The pop up café is a partnership between “91 Ways to build a Global City” and The Kitchen – Bristol’s YMCA café. The 91 Ways project launched in Bristol in June, with the ambition of using food to bring together the 91 language communities of Bristol. The pop up Peace Café is the latest step in this campaign. The event was presented by Eventbrite – Business West and supported by a number of organisations including Bristol City Council.
ROMANIA’S NATIONAL DAY The Honorary Consulate of Romania in Bristol was honoured to host the Romanian Reception on the occasion of Romania’s National Day. On their National Day, Romanians the world over celebrate the union of their ancestral homeland, the cradle of their civilisation, Transylvania, with the rest of the Romanian Kingdom.
Dr Razvan Constantinescu - Honorary Consul of Romania in Bristol said: ‘For centuries, Romanians in Wallachia and Moldavia lived divided by historical and political circumstances from their brethren from over the forest, Transylvania (in Latin, Transylvania means Over-the-Forest). Those circumstances are now history, and us Romanians live together. Having achieved our dream, nothing will ever separate us again. It is particularly poignant for us Romanians to celebrate our unification today here in Great Britain for since those days, all the way through modern times, Great Britain was and continues to be our trustworthy and dependable ally and champion.’
For Romanians, this day is a great national holiday and a good reason to celebrate.
Among Romanian Community’s special guests were HM Lord Lieutenant in Bristol Mrs Mary Prior MBE, the Lord Mayor of the City of Bristol Cllr Claire Campion-Smith, Representatives of the Romanian Parliament Senator Viorel Badea and Deputy Aurelian Mihai, Aldermen and Councillors, Honorary Consuls of Cyprus, Danemark, Finland, France, Sweden, Norway, France and Italy as well as Spiritual Leaders, members of the British and Romanian communities.
‘REFUGEES WELCOME HERE’ Since the rise in the refugee crisis citizens have worked hard to steer the heads of the government by uniting and using their freedom of speech. Communities and cities unite to protest in the hope of capturing the minds of the government. One of the main driving source for this international movement was the recent image of a dead Syrian child swept by the sea laying faced down on the seashore. It was this powerful image of a three-year-old Syrian child, fleeing with his family from the regime that has captured the eyes and the hearts of the nation evoking compassion and determination to “open all borders”. The national day of action was held in Bristol yesterday as protesters marched from The Fountains to the top of Park Street, a street with historical significance, then back to The Fountains. Bristol was declared as a City of Sanctuary in 2011 with the goal of celebrating the city’s cultural diversity and providing a safe haven to refugees and asylum seekers.
Richard Stephens who has been an active campaigner for twentytwo years also expressed similar views and reinforced that unity is the only way to make a change.
City of Sanctuary is a national network, a movement of local groups made up by businesses, community organisations and individuals, all with one thing in common; their belief that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, and that their contribution to society should be celebrated.
“It was the obvious outcome of the Iraq war that has destabilised the Middle East”
The protest varied from students, families with children to elderly couples and political individuals who all share the same view. The variation in age and demographics made this protest unique. Participants expressed strong opinions and amongst those were a German born Muslim female and an English active campaigner who has worked on campaigns such as the Steven Lawrence case, The Gaza crisis and demonstrations against the Iraq war. Lila Sersoub who’s parents have immigrated from north Africa stated “To welcome these people is our duty as human beings, we all belong in the same planet and to turn your back on the needy is wrong regardless of faith; to close your heart to the plea of a family is dehumanising and to be frank, we went to their country and made a big fat mess of it therefore, it is our duty to tidy up, tighten up the ranks together and sort this out.”
“We try to bring together as many people as possible because we don’t believe that a small number of elite people can do anything by themselves. Therefore it’s about bringing everyone together to say all of us can make a difference, we can make changes.” Speakers including mayoral hopeful Marvin Rees spoke with compassion and felt that Bristol should reinforce its title as City of Sanctuary. Dealing with the core fundamentals of a problem and recognising the underlying cause is essential and a member of the protest highlighted this. “If you want to look at racism you have to look at the causes of racism, you have to look at how capitalism exploits racism to divide workers, making workers fight other workers” “Bristol is a very multicultural city, yes there are ghettos but that’s again from historic racial policies of ghettoization” Writer: Osob Elmi
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SPECIAL FEATURE
ADOPTION AND FOSTERING IN THE BME COMMUNITY The term BME here (Black and minority ethnic children) refers generally to children Black African, Caribbean, Asian and Mixed ethnicity.
The number of BME children who are looked after by a local authority is increasing year on year and there are many more BME children who are looked after than families coming forward to care for them. The majority of these children are over 5 years old and in need of families to provide permanent homes. Black boys are particularly over represented as older children in the care system and an ideal alternative for these children, who cannot return home, may be through fostering or adoption within families who will be committed to their care and development and are able to provide positive role models for them as they move into adulthood. Families and BME families in particular have a wealth of strengths to offer particularly to children who may have been separated from or have limited contact with their communities of origin. Families who foster or adopt are supported in a number of ways by the agency they work with; •
Practical support from a social worker allocated to them •
Financial remuneration •
Agency support groups where issues and concerns can be shared with other foster carers/ adopters •
Professional training to assist with the task of fostering
§While fostering is common place within black and minority ethnic families, there can be resistance to adoption in some communities. Looking after our own, a book from the British Association for Adoption & Fostering, explores the stigma attached to adoption, and celebrates the families who have proved you don’t have to be genetically related to a child to love them. In many black communities around the world there is a tradition of children staying with distant relatives, family friends or other people who are not directly related to them. Many parents look after other people’s children, sometimes for years, with no social recognition or financial assistance. This tradition is also common in the UK, where many older parents from black and minority ethnic communities, whose children have grown up and left home, become foster carers. Fostering children through the local authority makes an enormous difference to the lives of children in care. However, the idea of adopting a child who is not a blood relation can be difficult for some communities to understand. Bunmi, an adoptive mother from Nigeria, explains the problems her family had when she adopted her son, Nathan. “Adoption in my community is a complete no no. When I told my dad he couldn’t get his head around why I was taking someone else’s child. Our cultures, particularly my parent’s generation, are really into blood connections. For the first year of Nathan’s life my sister kept getting his name wrong. It used to make me so angry; it was like his name wasn’t important enough to remember because he wasn’t really mine. Now, five years later, it’s all ok, but it took them a long time to accept Nathan as family.” Nikki, an adopter from Sierra Leone, admits that adoption is not the number one choice in her community either. “A lot of people have negative, second hand experiences of adoption and it is these negative messages that come across. So whenever I see anyone I am on a mission to sell adoption as a viable option.” However Nikki was surprised to find her family rallying around her when she adopted her daughter, Lisa. “My family, even the wider family, have all taken Lisa in. They all love her. I think our family gained a lot from adopting, by breaking down the stereotypes and stigma.” People like Bunmi and Nikki are vitally important role models. Black and minority ethnic children are still over represented in the care system and finding suitable families for them is always a high priority. Adoption is one of the best ways we know of giving children who cannot return to their birth families a permanent and loving home. More people from the black and minority ethnic communities are being urged to consider whether they could offer a child a family forever. Even with the cultural challenges, Bunmi promises it’s worth it. “Whatever the early difficulties I had with Nathan, the joys far outweigh these and I can say from the heart for anyone thinking of adopting: ‘Go for it!’”
WHY DO SIKHS CELEBRATE DIWALI The day known as Bandi Chhor Divas (day of liberation) marks the release of Guru Hargobind and 52 princes who were imprisoned by the Emperor Jahangir at Gwalior fort. The return of guru Hargobind to the punjab coincided with he Hindu festival of Diwali, thus making it one of the three major festivals celebrated by sikhs. After the death of his father, Guru Hargobind increased the capacity of the sikh military, built a fort to defend Amristar and established a formal sikh court. This was all to defend sikhs but prompted the king Jahangir to imprison him seeing Guru Hargobind as a threat. it isn’t known exactly how long Guru Hargobind was imprsioned for, but in this time his follows made numerous request to the King for his release. Jahangir decided to allow the release of guru Hargobind, but he refused to leave with out the princes who were imprisoned with him. Jahanjir agreed but set a condition that only those who could hang onto guru Hargobind’s cloak tails would be released with him. Guru Hargobind agreed to this and had a special clock made for him with fifty two pieces of string hanging off it so each prince could hang onto one and leave with him. Guru Hargobind travelled back to the Punjab, to celebrate the sikhs lighted the Golden temple which is a tradition that still continues today. Sikhs also give sweets, light candles and set off fireworks in celebration. however this year sikhs across the world called for a black diwali! meaning there was no lighting of the temple or candles and no fireworks. instead sikhs were urged to reflect on injustices they feel were committed against them with the desicration of a holly book, and the killing of protesting sikhs in india. this is the first black diwali in over twenty three years and the feeling in the temples in Bristol was a sober one.
A TRIBUTE TO A COMMUNITY CHAMPION BAISAKHI SARDAR MUKHTYAR SINGH
Baisakhi is one of the major festivals of Sikhs and is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and gaiety in the state of P and all throughout the world where there is a significant Sikh population.
For the large farming community of Punjab, Baisakhi Festival marks the time for harvest of rabbi crops and they celebrate the Sardar Mukhtyar Singh Khalsa was born 15 June 1948. His family was from Gota - Fateh, Pakistan. The family moved to performing joyful bhangra and gidda dance. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi Festival has tremendous religious significance a on a Baisakhi Day in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru laid the foundation of Panth Khalsa-the Order of the P Gwalior, India during the separation of Pakistan and India in 1947. After getting ready people pay a visit to their neighbourhood Gurudwara and take part in the special prayer meeting organize Mukhtyar arrived with his mother and younger brother in the UK during 1955 and was quickly sighted as a ‘bright spark’. His reading habits allowed enough general knowledge to gain entry and attend St George Grammar School in Bristol where his father had organised settlement as part of the family’s emigration from India. During his early years, after his education, he worked in the chemicals and engineering industries. He also had joined the Royal Air Force Cadets Training core which was unfortunately cut short due to kidney health issues. After his marriage and birth of his first son Mukhtyar was taken ill due to his kidney issues and underwent a kidney removal operation. This was a worrying time for his immediate and extended family, however he pulled through. Soon after this Dad joined the Royal Mail where he spent most of his working life as a Transport Manager. He retired in 2001. In 2011 he had a further set back when his remaining kidney began to fail. He received a successful kidney transplant, which allowed him to continue his ambition in serving the community. Sikhi was a driving force in Mukhtyar life. He became an Amritdhari Sikh around 1974/75 with his wife by his side and he turned his concentration to his Sikh religion and heritage. He played an active role in the running of the local Sikh Gurudwaras. Through this he raised awareness of the Sikh religion through Parchar and work with the various community organisations and educational establishments, as well chaplaincy for Her Majesties Prison Service.
He was instrumental and participated in the following activities; 1. Setting up the charitable organisation Khalsa Heritage Trust 2. Provision of Sikh Philosophy lectures at the Sikh temple 3. An active member of the Bristol Interfaith Group and Multi Faith Forum 4. Provided education services to schools and education establishments at the Gurudwara 5. A Prison Chaplain for Sikh Prisoners in the South West. 6. A founding organiser of the Bristol Vasaikhi Mela celebrations on behalf of the Sikhs of Bristol which now takes place annually 7. A key lead and community advisor for the city of Bristol Sikh community and wider network 8. He was an European ambassador of peace Mukhtyar was always ready to help people whenever he could. He played a key leading role in successful legal proceedings against crimes committed on racial grounds on a number of cases which set precedents to ensure those crimes could not go unnoticed and not without justice. His passion was his religion and his reward was the community service he provided. He leaves behind a flourishing family that will never forget his ethics and reason for his being. Mukhtyar Singh Khalsa; a husband, a proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, religious advocate, a community champion and teacher will be deeply missed by his loved ones and all whose lives he touched.
FACE TO FACE
WITH SAID ABDULLAHI 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 service.
J. We are here with Said Abdullahi of Homes 4 All, Hi Said how are you? S. I’m fine thank you J. And to my right we have Brian, hi Brian B. Hi J. Good to be with you guys. What we are looking at today is a little bit of your own history said. Where you are from, a little bit about your life, your family, and then we will go on to your businesses in the past and up now with Homes for all. So tell us, originally where are you from? S. Originally I came over here as a refugee from Somalia; I have been here since I was young, 1989. I grew up and completed my high school in London then moved to Bristol in 1969. I did all types of work to start with; I did cleaning, worked in a laundrette, cinemas, TGI Friday, just lots of different work. J. So you have always been working since you finished your education S. yes J. How was your time in London? S. I was just a student in London J. When you made the move over to Bristol in 96, how did you find that? S. My sister was in Bristol at the time and made me make the move over. The Somali community was just starting to grow at that time. There were also a lot more Job opportunities in Bristol compared with London. J. So you moved for work, and as you have mentioned you managed to find a lot of different work. How was it that you came to be involved with social housing? S.I started with ‘uncle’ Nazir in 2003. First I was a security guard at the White Swan Hostel. ‘Uncle’ Nazir used to run this as a bed and breakfast for the Linden housing group and the Linden hotel and the Port View Hotel in Avon Mouth. We would work 12hr shifts. Around 2005 things stared to slow down so ‘uncle’ Nazir moved to social housing. So with his son and me we started Social Housing for people on benefits in 2006. We would get referrals from Bristol City Council and house people on housing benefits.
After that I stared my own social housing company with two partners called Refugee Link. This was soon changed to All Nations in 2007. From this we started to expand and eventually had funding from BCC for supported housing. In 2011 I resigned from All Nations and started to set up Homes 4 all with brain and Sue ( who sadly passes away ) leaving brain and myself to continue with Homes 4 All. At the start we had four houses and we have grown to the point we are at now. J. How does the business work? S. Our business has two sections. One is the private letting and the other is social housing. We are expanding into Newport with the private letting and we running a hostile in Birmingham for social housing. B. Just to give you some stats we currently have 44 properties with 182 rooms so it’s grown quite well very well indeed. Let’s talk a bit more about the social housing and how that works. I would also like to know how you feel that plays a key role within the community. What difference do you think that your organisation, you and your staff bring to the community? S. Our staff are multicultural, we speak Arabic, Somali, some Swahili which we find helps as our staff can communicate better with for example the Sudanese, Kurdish, Afghani and Somali clients. We help them a lot in terms of their housing and benefits although we don’t get funding form BCC. We help people settle! We are also great value for money with our rooms (for the social housing). J. You had mentioned that as it stands you are not getting any funding from Bristol City Council (BCC) from the work you are doing. Do you get any support from the council? S. Not a lot rally to be honest with you we have established everything ourselves. The only thing we get from the council is housing benefit, where they pay the rent for tenants on housing benefits. In terms of Birmingham we are waiting to get a supportive housing, we do a lot of support work there. J. Do you feel that in Bristol with how much you have already done with social housing being involved in so many organisations and having a good track record that the council should offer you more support? Or are you looking to do it all yourself. S. Yes they should really in the future we are looking for BCC to
back us up on the social housing. As it stands we just charge the normal rent rates, but as we grow and establish ourselves we will see what we can get from them so we can improve what we offer on the social housing front. J. do you feel expanding into Birmingham will have an effect on the work you are doing in Bristol? S. No we are just expanding. There is a greater need for housing over there and we want to be in the market to help. Q. When we spoke last you mentioned about your organisation Homes4All countering for all types of communities including the Romanians in Newport. Can you tell us about them, there is so much hearsay about that particular community in the UK so having your perspective as a person who has worked closely with them what are they like, in terms of housing. S. Romanians one of our best tents when you look at our provisional tenants. They are all hard working people; they work full time and stay in groups of friends or family. They are good people to work with. J. Do you feel that is, let’s say unfair to judge them in the way mainstream media do. S. yes I think it is, until you have dealt with people yourself you don’t know so you shouldn’t judge. It’s better to see for yourself. B. I think sometimes we generalise too much, we all do it. J. Brian, you have been working with Said for a number of years now. B. Yes since 2011. J. From your point of view what is the importance within multicultural communities to have organisations like Homes4All. B. In a sense we are a voice for the community. We house all types of people and we are trying to show everybody that they’re not all bad and they all deserve a chance. Said does more in the frontline work, he is always at the sharp end. I tend to be in the background crunching the numbers and paying the bills. I don’t get as involved in the day to day running of the company. J. how do you see the company growing within Bristol.
B. What I really want is controlled growth of the company, not spurts. I deal with the money and like to make sure we can afford do expand. J. What message do you have for anyone out there who is having difficulty with housing? How can the approach you guys for help? S. The best way to get in touch is though our web site, or you can come into our offices at J3 Easton. We get a lot of referrals from existing tenants from all communities. So for people that just happen to be on benefits we are here for them. We are an important part of the community. We call ourselves Homes4All because we deal with everybody from all backgrounds. J. Brian, Said, thank you both very much for your time, thank you for talking to Mast today and we will be looking out for you and hope to see bigger and better things in the future!
People & Places From Shanti Niketan to St George Part 5 – Elementary Education in India Although I am not a teacher, I have long had an interest in education. In the UK, I’ve had 3 ‘stints’ as a school governor of 3 separate schools. In India: I wrote my MPhil thesis on the subject of “Elementary Education in India”; I was a governor and chair of governors of an international school in Delhi; and I still do some, very limited, work to assist a school in rural Haryana with their fund raising efforts. And the reason that I have chosen to write a brief article about the subject is that, as has been shown by the World Bank, Oxfam and others, universal elementary education is one of the key levers for helping people to climb out of poverty.
Article by Nigel Williams, Black Iris Images
In recent years, the Government of India has placed a great deal of emphasis on improving access to, and quality of, elementary education. However, according to an authoritative, long term, independent study (Pratham’s ‘Annual Status of Education Report’) educational outcomes in government schools in rural India remain lamentable. Reading levels are poor and declining. Attendance is also weak – overall around 30% of children do not attend school on any day; in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Manipur, it is worse with around 40% non-attendance. Enrolment and attendance is worse amongst girls than boys; yet a mother’s education has a disproportionate impact on the education and health of her children. Despite this grim background, enormous numbers of India’s poorest parents recognize the value of education in providing better life chances for their offspring. The dreadful performance of many government schools has led to a boom in low cost rural private schools – in rural Uttar Pradesh around 53% of children attend such schools. Resources in these schools tend to be scarce – monthly tuition fees are typically under Rs1000 (around £10), which is around half of the per-pupil expenditure in government schools – and teacher pay tends to be considerably lower than in government schools. These private schools are also increasingly being burdened by regulation. However, they still outperform state schools and their popularity continues to grow.
Despite this grim background, enormous numbers of India’s poorest parents recognize the value of education in providing better life chances for their offspring.
My youngest daughter had the opportunity to spend 6 months working as a volunteer in a low cost rural school – the ‘Centre For Modern Learning’ in Bengtol in rural Assam. This English-medium school, at the time, had around 700 pupils, aged from 3 to 16. Its facilities were rudimentary but the commitment from parents was very high – the fees accounted for a large proportion of their income. The photos accompanying this article were taken when my wife and I visited the school for its annual parents’ day. Even today, around 1/3 of the world’s poorest people live in rural India. Education is one of the principal levers for providing an improved future for these people. There are some excellent organisations striving to improve educational outcomes in India, the largest of which I have already mentioned in this brief article – Pratham, which has a UK branch (http://www.pratham.org.uk). Do have a look at Pratham UK’s website if you have 5 minutes. And, should you have the opportunity to visit Delhi and wish to be inspired by the impact that education can have, I strongly recommend doing one of the Salaam Baalak Trust’s (http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com) City Walks in Delhi.
MTM 2012/2014 as it happened
Celebrating The Excellence Of Asian & Ethnic Minorities MTM invites your group to celebrate the excellence of the Asian & Ethnic Minorities at one of the biggest gathering of business & community achievement Awards in the South West. The event will take place in December 2015 where an opportunity to network with leading Asian & Ethnic Minority businesses and organisations awaits you. MTM Awards was launched in 2012 to honour Asian communities in the South West, and opened doors for other ethnic communities in 2014. The first Gala Evening was held in December 2012 with over two hundred nominated for the 23 awards ranging from business to professional services, with 69 making it to the final.
MTM AWARDS
MTM 2015: THE SOUTH WEST ASIAN & ETHNIC MINORITIES BUSINESS & ACHIEVEMENTS AWARDS 2015!
MTM 2014 saw 34 Awards up for grabs with the introduction of a Special Open Award category; this included all ethnic minorities in the region giving the awards greater participation. The Awards presentation was held on Sunday the 21st of December 2014 at The Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre featuring exquisite dining and entertainment. After the phenomenal success and the excellent raves for the 2014 Awards event, we present MTM 2015 Awards. The 2015 Glittering Gala Evening promises to be a bigger and wider event with 25 Awards up for grabs this year. This reduction in the number of Awards does not affect participation as we have merged some fields to create a single competitive award. MTM Events offer you an opportunity to be part of the biggest Asian & Ethnic Minority Award Event in the South West. Your participation promotes diversity and encourages local businesses to thrive. Your continued support & sponsorship will be highly appreciated.
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The Traditional Kurdish Fashion… The traditional Kurdish dresses are for everyday wear and are not reserved only for holidays. The Kurdish costume used to be an everyday dressing in the past, as time went on dressing evolved though some women still wear these on a daily basis especially the older generation of women. The dresses worn on a daily basis tend to be modest in colour and have little or no accessories or embroideries. In the present day the Kurdish dress is more commonly worn on special occasions. Traditional Kurdish women’s outfit includes either a vest or long-sleeved jacket or long overcoat worn over a gown. An under dress and puffy pants is worn beneath the gown. A belt over the gown is also needed. Traditionally women wear Kurdish hats ornamented with valued coloured stones, beads and gold pieces. Overtime this has become less common. Now it is more popular among women to only accessorise with gold jewellery. Today it’s the younger women and young girls who wear brightly coloured dresses adorned with many beads and sequins and the older women wear darker colours. However older women tend to wear gold jewellery because traditionally when women marry they would receive a dowry of gold jewellery pieces from their groom, the tradition implied that the amount of gold pieces a woman wore signified the status amongst other women in their society. This still applies today to a lesser extent.
The vest, long-sleeved jacket and overcoat; are either made from a plain fabric, a velveteen fabric or a sequin covered fabric.
The gown; is usually the dazzling masterpiece of the outfit. Most commonly Kurdish women wear a mesh fabric or a sheer fabric which is ornamented skilfully with many beads or sequins or both. The embroidery can be the same colour as the fabric or multi-coloured to create a bright dress. The brightly coloured outfits characterize the spirit of the Kurdish people. There are many different structural designs of the gown. The most common ones today are the traditional Kurdish region gown which is straight top to bottom with very long sleeves and the Kurdish-Iranian gown which is frilly from the waist down. Not to be confused with puffy “Aladdin” style garments.
The under layers; the under dress and trousers are made of a plain satin fabric usually matching the colour of the gown.
The belt; Fabric belts for are colour coordinated with any piece of the outfit. Married women tend to wear gold belts. There are two common types of gold belts: Lira belt; a gold belt made entirely from connected gold Lira coins or dangling gold Lira’s. ‘Gobarah’ belt: similar to a lira belt but the coins are inexpensive unlike the Lira coins.
The traditional Kurdish hat; is usually black velveteen ornamented with traditional amber andturquoise beads with gold or silver charms.
Traditional Kurdish gold jewellery; Traditional jewellery is gold, with gold charms and traditional amber, red or black beads and occasional dangling Lira coins. A long gold necklace with amber, red or black beads and dangling leaf shaped charms.
Meglad; A big black stone dangling from a gold chain Lira belt; a gold belt made entirely from connected gold Lira coins or dangling gold Lira’s. Gobarah belt; similar to a lira belt but the coins are inexpensive unlike the Lira coins. Most Kurdish women and men have a large collection of Kurdish dresses and are always on the lookout for new designs and fabric. They usually buy the fabrics of their choice and then have it tailored as such there are tailors who specialize in making Kurdish clothes. Recently these respected tailors have turned into designers that have created different designs for the conventional structure of the dress. In villages most of the time women tailor for their entire family after everyone makes their own fabric choice. There are known designers like Dilkash ‘Della’ Murad who integrate modern techniques with traditional and modern Kurdish styles. They now have taken Kurdish clothing to another level on international cat-walks.
RAJ KACHORI SLIDERS
Today we serve you with a starter & a main….a Saturday afternoon special when you want to get together for a good selfprepared meal at a community centre or an afternoon party at home. This is a mini version of the Raj Kachoris made with Gol Guppe instead of the larger Kachoris used in authentic Raj Kachoris, thus I call them sliders. Raj Kachori makes an excellent evening snack, rather just more than a snack. This version is very different than any other Kachori that you may have indulged in. The authentic Raj Kachori is a large puffed up poori and is very crispy from the outside but soft from the inside, deliciously filled with several flavourful ingredients like soft pakodis, chanas, mung beans, potatoes, yoghurt and spices. It is topped with more whipped yoghurt, sweet tamarind chutney, and chilli or coriander chutney and finally garnished with finely chopped coriander and finely set. Usually, one large Kachori is enough for a snack but my version uses regular Gol Gape. Raj Kachoris are a good alternate starter to onion Bhaji, not many places in the UK serve these, and in fact it is only restaurants with that East African Indian link will serve Kachoris. For making this delicacy, there is hardly any cooking but tedious prepation.These days no matter what part of the world you are in, every ingredient is available at most of the world foods stores. If you can make any of the items at home, go ahead and make them. Ingredients: • 32 Gol Gappa • 1 cup diced boiled potatoes • 1 cup cooked plain chick peas • 1 cup besan boondi soaked in warm water and squeezed • ½ cup chat papdi mix • 1 cup whipped yoghurt • ½ cup sweet and sour Tamarind chutney • 2 tbs. hot coriander chutney • ½ cup finely chopped dhania • 2 tbs. finely chopped green chilies • Good quality chaat Masala • ½ cup fine sev.
Let the fun begin – Preparation Arrange 4 quarter plates and place 4 Gol Guppe in the middle and gently punch out holes in all the Gol Guppe and fill each one with some potatoes, chick peas, boondi, chaat papdi mix and a hint of green chutney. Next punches holes in all of remaining Gol Guppe and fill them all with the same ingredients and place them neatly on a plate. Please note that when you are stuffing the Gol Guppe you make sure that you stuff with each ingredient and do not overfill with just one and have no room for the others. Next place 3 filled Gol Guppe on each of the 4 Gol Guppe on the plate then place 1 Gol Guppe on top of the three. Now you should have a pyramid on each plate. Then garnish each plate with hot chili, coriander and a sprinkle of chaat masala to taste. Finally with a spoon gently drizzle the whipped yogurt on all the Gol Guppe and then drizzle tamarind chutney. Just before serving garnish each plate with the star of this Kachori – the fine sevs.
Healthy Eating Cranberry‌
The health benefits of cranberry juice include relief from urinary tract infection, respiratory disorders, kidney stones, cancer, and heart disease. It is also beneficial in preventing stomach disorders and diabetes, as well as gum diseases caused by dental plaque. Cranberries are a versatile fruit and their benefits make them useful in food as well as in medicinal products. Cranberries one of the native fruits of North America, have a tremendous amount of antioxidant capacity as compared to other fruits and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and apples.
within the fruit. Studies have suggested that regular consumption of cranberry juice inhibits the development and spread of lung, breast, colon, prostate and other cancerous tumours. Cranberry juice contains a high amount of salicylic acid which can help reduce swelling, prevent blood clots, and eliminate tumours.
Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and salicylic acid. It also provides energy, protein and carbohydrates. In terms of minerals, it contains calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc
Cardiovascular Health: Cranberry juice can help lower the risk of heart related ailments and assist in sustaining cardiovascular health. The flavonoids present in cranberries have antioxidant properties and may decrease the threat of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which the arteries are narrowed due to the build-up of fat, calcium, and cholesterol found in the blood. This obstructs the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the various parts of the body and may lead to potentially fatal outcomes like heart attacks and strokes.
Cranberry juice has long been used for curing various illnesses. Some of the health benefits of cranberries include the following. Urinary tract Infections (UTI): Urinary tract infections refer to the existence of certain micro-organisms in the urine that exceed normal levels. These infections can develop in the bladder and cause cystitis, in the kidney to cause renal parenchyma, or in the prostate resulting in bacterial prostatitis. Drinking cranberry juice regularly can help prevent recurring UTIs in middle-aged women and pregnant women Avoid Respiratory Infections: According to conducted studies, cranberry juice helps to inhibit certain strains of the Haemophilus influenza, which is a common cause of ear and respiratory infections in children. The juice inhibits the bacteria’s hair-like structures, inhibiting them from adhering to the surface of the skin. Antitumor Effects: The anti-tumour efficacy offered by cranberry juice is attributed to the presence of polyphenolic compounds
According to new research studies, cranberry juice prevents tooth cavities. Proanthocyanidine, a chemical compound present in, inhibits the harmful bacteria from clinging to the teeth. These components inhibit acid production and protect the teeth by preventing the growth of plaque. Good oral hygiene, along with the consumption of cranberries, disrupts the pathogenic mechanism of dental caries and generally makes for good dental health. Good for Obesity: Cranberry juice is rich in organic acids, which have an emulsifying effect on the fat deposits in our body. So, it is good for people who want to shed those extra kilos. Prevents Kidney Stones: The high amount of acid components in cranberry juice prevents kidney stone formation.
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Just some of our Quality Sana Brands
Suppliers of quality foods to the Indian Restaurant trade
Cash & Carry
Tel: 01179 570948 01179 512010
SANA SELECT BASMATI RICE 20Kg
SANA SUPREME BASMATI RICE 20Kg
SANA SELF RAISING FLOUR 25Kg
SANA PIZZA FLOUR 16Kg
SANA CHAPATTI FLOUR 25Kg
PREMIUM SANA PEELED PLUM TOMATO 6x3Kg
SANA CHICK PEAS
SANA MANGO CHUTNEY 40Kg
Distribution Distribution Centre Centre Raja Foods Ltd, Unit 15b
Retail Centre/Cash and Carry Raja Foods Ltd,
Bridge Road Industrial Estate, 60/62 St Marks Road, Raja Foods Ltd, Unit 15b Bridge Road, Kingswood, Easton, Bristol BS5 0LR. Bridge Industrial Bristol BS15Road 4TA. Tel: Estate, 01179 512010 Tel: 01179 570948 Mob: 07833 778562 Bridge Road, Kingswood, Accounts can BS15 be set and deliveries Bristol 4TA. arranged through our distribution centre, for more information contact Mudassir 07837 161259 a 2% charge applies to all credit card payments. Tel: 01179 570948
Place you order now, call 01179 570948 Or for out of hours enquiries please call us on 07801 188808 | CHECK IN STORE FOR MANY SPEICAL OFFERS SHOP OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK INC. BANK HOLIDAYS 8AM - 8PM CLOSED ON EID DAY.
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ENTERTAINMENT ABS… DELHI WALA DELIVERS DEBUT TRACK... There’s a new player in town and he’s on a mission! Hailing from New Delhi but now living and studying in the UK, ‘Abs Abrol’ has held a passion to break into the music scene for a number of years. Amazingly, Abs has had no formal training but instead perfected his craft by watching YouTube tutorials! The popular TV show ‘Voice of Panjab’ was a major source of inspiration for the young man. ‘Kudi Naraina Di’ is the debut single by Abs and centres around the area of Naraina in New Delhi where he was born. The track features ‘Anon’ which is his own composition. The talented singer also writes his own lyrics and sings in a ‘folk style’ voice. Abs says: “This song is about a true depiction of how the town of Naraina is. It’s about how girls get all nicely dressed up to go out to parties or even to meet their friends and how the boys wanna talk to them.” He adds: “I’m on a mission to bring something new and different to the music arena. I didn’t want to do the typical Chandigarh or Ludhiana style of track. Dave Bawa drops KILLER video to ‘Maar Suteya’
MEDIA AGENCY OF THE YEAR... AGAIN! Multicultural Specialists Media Moguls score hat-trick at Asian Media Awards Specialist multicultural marketing and PR agency Media Moguls scooped the Media Agency of the Year Award for the third year in a row at the Asian Media Awards held at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester. The agency established since 1994 has built a solid reputation for creating innovative solutions for its wide ranging client base, helping them reach the UK’s increasingly diverse multicultural communities, as well as taking brands and services with an ethnic heritage to mainstream consumers. Picking up the award for the third time, Anjna Raheja (founder and managing director of Media Moguls) says: “We’re absolutely delighted and honoured to have won this award for a third time. The very existence of the Asian Media Awards is testament to a growing and successful media industry that serves the UK’s largest ethnic community and the fact that targeted communications have a huge role to play for brands, services and sectors in the UK. We have had a fantastic year working on some fabulous projects that have really showcased the very best of British Asian culture as well as some key social and commercial campaigns with important messaging for the community. Here’s to the next year!” The Asian Media Awards aim to showcase the very best talent working in the media industry. Now in their third year they also look to highlight the ground breaking work of reporters, editors and producers in highlighting issues affecting race relations and human rights. The video was directed by Anj Baig & Shmoyel and features a few friends from the Sky Living series Desi Rascals.
...its the end of the road for 2015...we have featured some great artistes over the year and given a platform to number debutant artistes and hope they have great success. Our entertainment pages will now be open to all artistes hence it simply remains The Entertainment ....
RISHI RICH - PROJECT RELEASE FULL VIDEO OF FREAK The full video of ‘Freak’ is out now and the world is literally freaking out! 12 years after the smash hit ‘Dance With You’ (Nachna Tere Naal) reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, the reunion track that millions of fans across the world have been waiting for is finally available! RnB sensation Jay Sean, the Punjabi Rockstar Juggy D and legendary producer Rishi Rich promised fans that they would come together to create a special track that epitomised the combined talents of these three global superstars. FREAK…has been probably the most anticipated release of the decade and it’s delighted and surprised both hard core followers of the three stars, as well as bringing a whole new generation of music lovers to the fore. Recorded in their hometown of London, Freak features the classic RnB tones that have made Jay Sean a force to be reckoned with and that took him to the top of the mainstream charts, combined with Juggy D’s instantly recognisable and powerful Punjabi lyrics, all meshed together by the magic that has made Rishi Rich THE producer of choice for a huge array of global artists.
DEEWANI MASTANI GETS REGAL LAUNCH! The Princess of Bollywood had a busy weekend wowing the catwalks and meeting with Rajasthani Royalty! Bollywood’s Princess Deepika Padukone created a right royal buzz as she promoted her upcoming release Bajirao Mastani. Kicking off the lavish weekend with the Blenders Pride Fashion Week, and rounding off regally with an exclusive meeting with the Rajasthani royal family, Deepika was certainly in demand! Launching the latest song Deewani Mastani from the film, Deepika travelled to two different cities in two days for promotional events - phew! In a first for Bollywood, the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2015 collaborated with the release of Bajirao Mastani’s latest track, Deewani Mastani. The 11th edition of the fashion tour - saw Sanjay Leela Bhansali unveil the latest track from his historical epic in the most befitting way – in style. The film’s leading lady, Deepika Padukone wowed audiences as she glided down the catwalk dressed as her character Mastani. In the song’s very first reveal, designer Anju Modi, who also created the costumes for the film, showcased her brand new line, inspired by Bajirao Mastani. Her Marathi inspired collection impressed fashionistas while simultaneously bringing history to life. Featuring authentic Persian embellishments and intricate embroidery, Anju Modi’s pieces are truly reflective of the Mughal period. The show stopping piece was modelled by Deepika herself, donning her original Deewani Mastani outfit; a flowing, gold gown with jewelled details. Arriving in vintage style and wearing an elegant cream sari, Deepika certainly looked the part. During the visit, the actress was given the honour of raising the flag for the royal polo match, a decades-old, royal tradition. The weekend cemented Deepika’s ‘royal’ status in the Bollywood industry.
extended entertainment.... HIP HOP WITH HINDI INFUSION! ‘Ill Defined’ return with a seriously smooth hip-hop balled complete with Hindi infusion! This cutting edge tune, produced by Ill Defined is titled ‘Tell Me’ (Tu Bata) and features the sweet vocals of the beautiful and talented Swaati who featured in the BBC New Music Showcase held at Maida Vale recently. The Bedford based brothers, Mar2s (Mar-toos) and Ripz continue to deliver exciting new music. They enjoyed great success last year with the song ‘Forever’ on which they collaborated with Navin Kundra. They have since been featured on BBC 1Xtra and Radio 1 where they were invited to take part in a cypher dedicated to Asian rappers. The meaning of Ill Defined is: ‘not clearly or sharply defined’. It’s used to describe something that is not understood and something you do not quite know what to do with, it’s like a problem and it’s this mystery that separates them from others in the industry. The guys deliver music from their hearts. Mar2s says: “We wanted to stay on the cutting edge of fusion music and showcase our unique style of production as well as song writing.” Ripz explains why they chose to work with Swaati: “She has a really unique style and is one of the most versatile Asian female vocalists out there.” Swaati is a singer song-writing talent whose ephemeral melodies and strong performance reveals a strong sense of vulnerability and authenticity and has attracted writing, performance and production collaborations from some of the scenes finest and emerging talent.
SHAKE YOUR BOOTIYA! Do The ‘Indian Twerk’ With Juggy D, Scottie B & Bushkin! Punjabi Rockstar Juggy D returns to create mayhem with his latest tune ‘Indian Twerk’. This time he collaborates with the UK’s international award winning DJ Scottie B and MC Bushkin the former member of the innovative London garage outfit Heartless Crew. The trio deliver a guaranteed floor-filler with its infectious Scottie B’s ‘hip-pop’ rhythm interspersed with Juggy’s unique Punjabi sound and Bushkin’s inimitable vocal flow. Just one listen and you’re hooked. Your body will be moving and your booty shaking! The story of the collaboration started 1000’s of miles away. Juggy explains: “I met Scottie B at an event in Dubai and we exchanged numbers. I never really called him for a couple of years but then one day I hit him up to see if he was still up for doing something together and amazingly within a week this track happened!” Scottie B has been an MTV Presenter, nominated for a MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) and UMA (Urban Music Awards). He’s also had a Gold selling compilation album and has remixed for chart-topping artists Rihanna, Labyrinth, Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, Kelly Rowland, Keri Hilson, Nellyto name but a few.
introducing Karl & Archie... DAVE BAWA – THIS IS ME… Cutting-edge, versatile, unique and a true representation of home-grown Canadian talent. What better way to describe young newcomer Dave Bawa This international urban desi collaboration created waves across the globe. Canadian artist Dave Bawa delivers the second video to accompany his 5 track debut EP ‘This Is Me’. Dave has a magical way of fusing Punjabi and English lyrics in a style all his own. The second single from the EP is ‘Maar Suteya’ and the video is a little macabre with poison, bodies in trunks and DIY funerals. The first single ‘Aish’ featured American rapper Rush Toor and the urban Punjabi singer Shrey Sean based in India. Aish was received with great applause and became a DJ favourite across the globe and breaking into various charts along the way. Maar Suteya is a beautifully produced number with deep lyrics. Dave explains the thinking behind the track: “This song is a true story about my first heartbreak in my life; this heartbreak had a lot to do with shaping me as a person, songwriter and the artist I am today.” The young, inspiring Dave has just completed his full 10-track studio album with musical maestro Rishi Rich in Atlanta USA. The eclectic album is set to release worldwide early 2016. The EP was produced by fellow Canadian Harj Nagra and features an eclectic mix of urban sounds fused with Punjabi and English lyrics and vocals by Dave Dave Bawa talks about the inspiration behind the album: “This a piece of work that was inspired by the struggles I went through to discover and develop my original sound, situations that I went through in my personal life, and a symbol of the hard work myself, my producer Harj Nagra and my manager Manpal Rana have put into creating it.”
AK SOUND Introducing AK Sound...as is our tradition of giving oppportunities to young raw talent... AK just fit into that category of great young man strving to achieve in this ever growing UK music industry. Karl & Archie Soames are London born boys have grown up in Kenya - a hot hub of music talent. With the backing of their mum Cgristine AK give performance as & when they can at community events and spend time polishing their debut EP release that is due out in the Summer of 2016. Their genres of music is RnB, pop & hip hop. Both brothers are singers, songwriters & good dancers. They have served in the British army at a young age of 16 and currently fully focused on the release of their EP.
MALIK’S
The World Foods Specialist African, Asian Afro Caribbean & English Foods
Malik’s was established in 1980 on Stapleton Road, the store is located just by the Easton Leisure Centre Bristol as a premier Africa Caribbean Food store Malik’s until recently also stocked wines & spirits.
They are well served on the net with an online clientele across Europe. Talking to Sajid Malik, he says, “this is part of an ongoing expansion project, there is much more to come. We are here to listen to our customers and serve them to their satisfaction”.
In a major refurbishment the store has done away with the OFF Licence image, this was a family decision that had been lingering for long but finally 2015 saw the change of Malik’s to a fully family friendly store. The group also stocks in Kitchen ware specialising in Dutch Pots. Malik’s has also introduced a halal butcher department stocking prime meat and poultry products, frozen fish, frozen vegetables and party foods.
Opening: 8.30 am – 9.00pm Monday to Saturday 9.00am – 7.00 pm Sundays & Bank holidays.
Their fresh produce section is fully stocked with Afro Caribbean and African produce specials. Besides being the every grocery, Malik’s has a complete range of hair and beauty products under their roof. This ranges from creams, colours, weaves, extensions and oils. Serving as a Money transfer and bill payment station, Malik’s has given the local community a one in all shopping store.
Shop: 01179 5517841 Online Sales: 01179411178 Hair Shop: 01179554800 Fax: 01179551550 Our online shop serves across Europe www.malikstores.co.uk Email: counter@malikstores.co.ukFB: Malikstoresonline
Congratulations to MTM South West Asian and Ethnic Minority businesses and staff on a very successful year of achievements. We are delighted to celebrate with you at the awards dinner.
Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative www.businesswest.co.uk 01275 373 373 @bw_initiative bwlinkedin.co.uk
Music for all occasions! Mehndi Wedding Birthdays Private Parties
Official Caterer of the MTM Awards 2015
Children’s Parties Road Show Corporate functions
With proven experience of DJ’ing at parties, wedding receptions road shows and theme nights, DJ Junior will make your event one that is memorable and fun. Call us & let’s make your special day extra special!
thedj.bristol@gmail.com 07807 802325
551 Foleshill Road, Coventry CV6 5JW Tel: 02476 686688 • 02476 689962 sales@friends-corner.co.uk www.friends-corner.co.uk
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West
OUT AND ABOUT ...in the South West
ANDREW’S GENTLEMANS HAIRDRESSER Price List Dry Hair Cut
£8.50
Childrens Hair Cut
£6.50
Senior Citizens Hair Cut
£7.00
Students Hair Cut
£7.00
Wet Hot Towel Shave
£5.00
Threading
£3.00
Hair Colour
£15.00
53 West Street, Old Market St Phillips Bristol, BS2 0BZ
Tel: 07708 698960 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9am-6pm | FREE 30 MINS PARKING
C
O R I A
N A H
R A DC
H S WA Prices from just £5
CALL 07466 264 400 Open 9am - 7pm daily Ingleside Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1JE
WE GUARANTEE YOU WON’T BEAT OUR PRICES! Furniture retail and wholesale. No middleman, buy direct, factory prices! Bed, pine, metal, solid oak, leather. Any size mattress. Wardrobes, sofa beds, futons, memory foam mattresses, pocket sprung mattresses, latex mattresses, orthopaedic mattresses. Fast delivery service including Saturday delivery. Visit our showroom for friendly, helpful advice. Clearance items always available at less than half price. Credit facilities ( written details on request).
Services and products • Free Parking • Established Since: 1992 • Bedroom furniture
• Bedrooms • Furniture - retail • Mattresses
• Pine furniture • Sofa beds & futons • Sofas
• Wardrobes • Wooden furniture
Opening Times Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Sundays & Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm
Tel: 0117 965 6400 5-7, Clay Hill, Fishponds Trading Estate, BristolBS5 7ES
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.
Leading the Way – Setting the Standards.
Bristol Office 0117 3291590 www.homes4all-ltd.com Email: said@homes4all-ltd.com Unit G Baptist Mills Court, Easton Bristol BS5 0FJ