Dear Eddie Your explanation to us on goanet that led you to write again on the Cyprian/Selma matter is noted.
Glad you jogged my memory to watch the "Histories of British Goans Project - The Documentary" recently released, which I have done, here are my comments: Thanks to the valued contributions from Sir John Johnson, Former British High Commissioner, Kenya and Peter Fullerton, Former District Commissioner, Kenya, this project is now beginning to ride on familiar road tracks to put our community in East Africa on the map of achievers before being filed in the archives of the British Library. Both these gentlemen spoke of our community not just the way they saw us but the way we actually were. Although the area in which I lived in Mombasa was largely populated by our community, there was also a sizable number from the Indian Sub-Continent. Our community did not live in exclusion from them, we were all united and I certainly remember the wonderful exchange of presents and sweets at Christmas and Diwali between us. As a child, this was all magic to my eyes and tastebuds. The excellent social activities centred around our clubhouses, first started in East Africa, and when we left, we carried this example to other parts of the world. It was a pleasure to hear what Edna Pereira from Mombasa said about domestic help in minute 8.49 "who were very loyal and stayed with us for years and years, almost accepted as a member of our family". She has reiterated my recollections, if you recall I have written about this in previous goanet positings. There was a gentleman I recognised in a photograph in Minute 1.50, he was one of my late father's close friend, their friendship spanned many years in Kenya and continued in the United Kingdom. As a child, my parents treated us to an extensive tour of East Africa, including a cruise around Lake Victoria where the biggest prawns ever seen were served. Zanzibar was my favourite place. Fortunately, none of my immediate or extended family experienced the troubles that eventually took place in Zanzibar nor the expulsions from Uganda and Malawi so I am not able to comment on these parts of the video. Finally, Sir John Johnson's excellent observation in Minute 8.14 is noteworthy "Don't think Goans ever complained". He was right, there was little for us to complain about, we had a wonderful time, enjoyed ourselves to the full and much of this zest for life has stayed with us to this day. Thanks to Goan Voice UK and yourself as editor, the academic success stories of the next generation, whose parents once lived in East Africa, are continually being reported for worldwide reading, rather than being hidden under a bushel. Having worked on large scale projects, I have inside knowledge of just how much work is involved and appreciate the initiative taken to get this project up and running. It will be good to see something worthwhile being catalogued for future interested generations in what is left of our community from East Africa especially its rich heritage and culture. Rose Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 18 September 2012
