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A portrait of Hafsa Zayyan against a white brick wall

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Interviews

How I wrote it: Hafsa Zayyan on We Are All Birds of Uganda

Hafsa Zayyan

Unflinchingly honest but tempered by its humanity, this is a novel for our times...

An extremely readable and fascinating dual narrative about the expulsion of East African Ugandans under Idi Amin in the 70s and the journey taken by Sameer, born in modern day Leicester, to understand his familial legacy.

[A] sprawling and epic dual narrative, spoke of her lived experience, but that which she'd seldom seen in the books she read: a story of cross-generational divides, and being both Black and South Asian ... It's woven together with gentle urgency; sensitive and with a rare perspective on how our mixed race backgrounds can help form feelings of both internal power and conflict.'

The issues and subjects it takes on are big ... All are explored with great intelligence and sensitivity ... Zayyan's writing finds the lightness and fluency of a much more experienced novelist ... It is an epic novel in terms of historical, geographic, and cultural scope. It has much to recommend it: the tone, the structure, the ambition, and the clarity that enables the story to cover so much ground without ever becoming confused or lost during its 360-pages.

This moving tale of love and loss ... is well worth the wait.

What's distinctive is the modern, multi-ethnic vision of masculinity she presents and the solidarity that emerges from it ... the romance that evolves between Sameer and Maryam reads like a miracle, something good that might yet be salvaged from trauma. But Zayyan won't allow such easy relief: the anxieties that have simmered throughout the novel finally surface at its end, taking a sinister shape in the shadowy last lines. It's a daringly indeterminate way to end, and undeniably powerful too.

[A] powerful debut exploring migration, identity and racial prejudice.

It was stunning and took me on a journey that I didn't know I needed to take. A book that will stay with me for a long time.

Sure to be a best-seller, this debut novel looks set to make big waves and is the perfect read for people looking to hear a familiar story told from an entirely new and fresh perspective.

If you've been looking for a novel that spins its plot around history, love, racism, ambition, faith, friendship and the sometimes crushing expectations of family, call off the search ... I've struggled with my attention span when it comes to reading during the third lockdown but this had me absolutely hooked ... incredibly skillful. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Zayyan brings attention to a period of history that many may be unaware of and reckons with some of the real world consequences of colonialism in an interesting and personalised way. It is a brave book in those terms ... we also witness some very believable and relatable instances of modern day racism as well as a strong and interesting account of how he struggles to balance his way of life with the wishes of his parents ... Zayyan writes very well ... in Sameer she writes a complex, interesting character who makes sense as a product of his life circumstances ... We Are All Birds of Uganda does tell stories that I haven't often read before, and brings attention to parts of history that really need to be focused on in our current climate.

Rapper Stormzy's favourite debut soars by asking: Who are we - and how do we belong?

On the evidence of this book, which is set in England and Uganda, [Zayyan] is an exciting new literary talent.

[A] tender, beautifully written read ... This remarkably accomplished debut is a moving tale of love and loss, told between two continents over a troubled century.

Zayyan's novel is emotive, multi-layered and makes for necessary reading.

From the moment the Afrori Team saw this book we were captivated. It is one of the most remarkable debut novels we have come across. A book you will not forget.

...It's a complex and  delicately flavoured dish to be savoured and digested slowly.

So brilliant, moving and just prescient for today that I just want to keep on waffling about it.

A truly thought provoking novel which makes you wonder and question yourself and the world long after putting it down. A real success.

A stirring exploration of love and displacement.

A remarkably accomplished, polished debut.

We Are All Birds of Uganda

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Hafsa Zayyan

Praise for We Are All Birds of Uganda

Rightfully tipped for greatness.

Unflinchingly honest but tempered by its humanity, this is a novel for our times...

An extremely readable and fascinating dual narrative about the expulsion of East African Ugandans under Idi Amin in the 70s and the journey taken by Sameer, born in modern day Leicester, to understand his fam ...

Rightfully tipped for greatness.

Unflinchingly honest but tempered by its humanity, this is a novel for our times...

An extremely readable and fascinating dual narrative about the expulsion of East African Ugandans under Idi Amin in the 70s and the journey taken by Sameer, born in modern day Leicester, to understand his fam ...

Rightfully tipped for greatness.

Unflinchingly honest but tempered by its humanity, this is a novel for our times...

An extremely readable and fascinating dual narrative about the expulsion of East African Ugandans under Idi Amin in the 70s and the journey taken by Sameer, born in modern day Leicester, to understand his fam ...

Articles featuring Hafsa Zayyan

12 books that make great gifts for Eid

10 books about Muslim experiences to read this Ramadan

How I wrote it: Hafsa Zayyan on We Are All Birds of Uganda

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