Kampala to Canada is a vibrant coffee table book and exhibition, filled with biographies, personal photographs, and colorful artwork exploring the immigration journey-from resiliency and grief to marginalization and hope.
This anthology shares untold memoirs of 12 Ugandan South Asian Canadian immigrants. Their journeys cross continents and generations, beginning in India and culminating in their resettlement in Canada. Most arrived as refugees in the 1970s, becoming some of Canada's brightest entrepreneurs, hoteliers, and professionals - enriching Canada's social, economic, and cultural landscape. Each story reflects vulnerability, humility, generosity, and love.
Kampala to Canada reveals an important chapter of Canadian history-the 1972 expulsion of 80,000 Asians from Uganda. These Ugandan Asians, many of whom called Uganda home for generations, were forced to leave with just 90 days' notice. While many countries closed their doors, Canada's refugee policies welcomed over 6,000 of these displaced people by 1973, paving the way for Canada's evolving refugee resettlement programs. This book captures their immigrant experiences within Canada's multicultural fabric.
Presented like a richly curated art exhibition, the book features high-quality, full-colour pages showcasing vibrant personal photographs alongside powerful artwork created by diverse Canadian artists from the Asian diaspora. Printed with the best possible quality available through Amazon KDP, Kampala to Canada offers a visually stunning and tactile experience that complements the compelling memoirs within, making it a treasured keepsake for anyone interested in immigration, culture, and Canadian history.
Taslim Samji, an internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary Canadian artist, curator, cultural leader, spoken word poet, and writer, is known for curating exhibitions that amplify immigrant voices and marginalized artists in response to anti-Muslim racism and xenophobia. Her work explores identity, pluralism, and shared perspectives.
Samji holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from the University of British Columbia and studied art at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She has been honoured with awards including the Women of the Decade in Arts and Leadership (2017), presented by the Women Economic Forum (WEF), and recognition from Women of Worth (2023). She serves on arts boards, mentors community artists, and advocates for inclusion in the Canadian art scene.
Discover more about Taslim Samji's work at www.tsamji.com.