We Are All Birds of Uganda

We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan
Reviewed by Jess
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Stories that go back and forth in time to give historical context to a modern story seem to be popular recently, and with good reason, as this debut novel from Hafsa Zayyan wonderfully demonstrates. The story of present day Sameer in London, lost in his job and lost in his identity, is layered with his grandfather Hasan’s story in 1960s Uganda, where he is left stateless and rootless in a country he thought was home.

Sameer is definitely an interesting character to read; his insecurities, vulnerabilities and desires are on full display. A stressful work situation combined with a tragic incident involving his best friend pulls him back to his hometown Leicester, and sets off a chain of unusual, sometimes rash decisions. As he throws caution to the wind we follow him on his journey of discovery, back to Uganda where history and present day collide.

I really settled into this story, and felt like I could have kept reading (not helped by the somewhat open ending!!). It’s beautifully descriptive, and addresses so many bigger issues without being preachy or overly labouring the point. I particularly enjoyed Hasan’s letters and learning about the South Asian expulsion from East Africa - my family too are from there and settled in Leicester, so it’s a personal connection for me. I would have loved to have more in-depth understanding of Maryam, the key figure in Uganda who seems to change everything for Sameer, as I didn’t quite feel the connection. Overall, an excellent emotional read on what it means to belong and to find a home.