Hi, thank you for replying. ‘Catholic Goan Zanzibari’ I mean like my parents - Goan Catholic origin but born and grew up in Zanzibar and their experience before, during and after the revolution. Both mum and dad have died now - dad in 2020. With my inheritance, I took my children and grandchildren to Zanzibar in 2023 as I felt it important to see where they came from. It was the most amazing experience. With the help of a tour guide, who knew the family while they lived in Zanzibar, we were able to visit the house my mum grew up in, the church they married in, a bakery that was owned by my father’s uncle - which is still a bakery, the Goan institute - where my dad played in a band - both his clarinet and saxophone were confiscated - I never heard him play as he could not afford to buy one in the UK. Also Cable and Wireless refused to honour his pension contributions even though he had worked for them for 19.5 years and the house they lived in once they married - which amazingly was opposite my room at The Tembo Hotel. I felt really connected to my parents while I visited and would love to visit again. It has also encouraged a number of my cousins to visit - one who was 13 at the time of the revolution remembers her dad not coming home from work that morning (he also worked for cable and wireless) and was held in the office for sometime. Thank you for your amazing book - I have recommended it to other members of my family.
Both mum and dad have died now - dad in 2020. With my inheritance, I took my children and grandchildren to Zanzibar in 2023 as I felt it important to see where they came from. It was
the most amazing experience. With the help of a tour guide, who knew the family while they lived in Zanzibar, we were able to visit the house my mum grew up in, the church they married in, a bakery that was owned by my father’s uncle - which is still a bakery, the Goan institute - where my dad played in a band - both his clarinet and saxophone were confiscated - I never heard him play as he could not afford to buy one in the UK. Also Cable and Wireless refused to honour his pension contributions even though he had worked for them for 19.5 years and the house they lived in once they married - which amazingly was opposite my room at The Tembo Hotel. I felt really connected to my parents while I visited and would love to visit again. It has also encouraged a number of my cousins to visit - one who was 13 at the time of the revolution remembers her dad not coming home from work that morning (he also worked for cable and wireless) and was held in the office for sometime.
Thank you for your amazing book - I have recommended it to other members of my family.