AwaaZ Magazine

Cover Story: Volume 17, Issue 2

From Nagpur To Nairobi To Neasden – Tracing Global Hindutva by Amrit Wilson

The disturbing rise of Hindutva supremacism in India has been mirrored by a corresponding growth of extremism in the Indian...

In Solidarity by Marziya Mohammedali

I write this on the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and I humbly acknowledge them as...

Racism and Racial Discrimination in Early Independent Tanzania by Lawrence Mbogoni

You go through two stages in these colonial countries. One is when midnight comes; the clock strikes, and you are...

The Harvest of Casteism by Suraj Yengde

The caste system in India thrives on what BR Ambedkar, a Dalit leader who was the chief drafter of the...

In Defence of Blackness by Tariq Mehmood

Even before the murder of George Floyd, America and the United Kingdom (where I live) were well versed in state...

Exposing Racism in The British Health Care System by Prof Anandi Ramamurthy

The current coronavirus outbreak has laid bare structural inequalities in the UK including in Britain’s health care system. It was the devastating reality of our disposability that was undou...

What Does It Mean To Be 'African'? by Firoze Manji

The apartheid state of South Africa, as did the colonial regime in Kenya, used the term 'African' to classify people who had a particular skin colour, curly hair, and certain facial features...

A Perspective On Caste And Casteism In South Africa by Neeshan Balton

South Africa’s colonial and apartheid past has bequeathed deep cleavages of race, class, tribalism and ethnicity. Although apartheid formally ended over a quarter of century ago, these divis...

Bhimrao R Ambedkar: An Assessment Of A Dalit Icon by Karim F Hirji

India today suffers from deep, painful fractures along class, caste, religious, gender and ethnic lines. Under the BJP government led by Narendra Modi, these apparently intractable schisms h...

Black Lives Matter And The Fight Against Ethnic Chauvinism by Andy Wynne

The Black Lives Matter movement, originating in the US, is having a major impact globally. This is the largest protest movement against racism, at least since the fall of apartheid and proba...

Tribute to the Shaheen Bagh Women Protestors by Nandita Haksar

These women have become a symbol for resistance and women’s empowerment for the entire country. This year International Women’s Day will be 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action wh...

Why This Almost Blind Reverence of Mahatma Gandhi? by Zarina Patel

Mahatma Gandhi is no doubt one of the great leaders of our time who has left a lasting impact on world history. He was, however, a human being and therefore neither infallible nor perfect. N...

Poems by S Chandramohan, a Dalit Writer

KILLING THE SHAMBUKA (Inspired by a famous poem on black lynching) Jim Crow segregated hostel rooms Ceiling fans bear a strange fruit, Blood on books and blood on papers, A black body...

Regular Column

Letters to the Editors

Dear Editors, Yes, it is sad to see the print version stopping but I can see why it is a necessary decision. I congratulate you for a commendable job and marvel at your dedication and commitment. We shall cherish the printed versions we have...

London Calling - BLM+ by Ramnik Shah

London Calling What the horrible death of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis in May 2020 unleashed, in its immediate aftermath, was a chain of reactions across the globe under the generic banner of Black Lives Matter (BLM). There were mass demonstrations...

In Defence of Kofi Annan

Dear Editors I found Karim Hirji`s critique (in Issue 3 of 2019) of Kofi Annan`s obituary (`FootSTEPS`, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2018) to be rather unfair and overly stated. He was reacting to what he saw as a superficial and one-sided portrayal of Annan`s...

Special Feature

Award-Winning ex–Kenyan Education Champion calls on UN Chief to Lead the Way

Ameer M Keshavjee, a former Kenyan and winner of the Sovereign’s Medal, the highest Canadian award for volunteerism conferred by...

My Reflections on The KENYA-US FTA

An intense debate has been raging on the proposed Kenya-US Free Trade Agreement. I should commend those who have organised...

Kilindini Bar – An Icon Of Old Mombasa About To Disappear!

Mr Alexio Caeteno De Souza founded the Kilindini Bar in 1908. He came ...

The Gossage Cup

AwaaZ will be running a series of articles on the development of footb...

Friends of Awaaz

Yash and Jill Ghai, Mohez Karmali, Gijsbert Oonk, Vijoo Rattansi, Victoria Commercial Bank Charitable Trust, I& M Bank, Willy Mutunga, Chandaria Foundation, Asian Foundation, Firoze Manji, Muthoni Wanyeki, Wanjiru Gikonyo, Kirit Pattni, Ismail Ramadhani, Dr. Ramadhan Marjan, Radha Upadhyaya, Benegal Pereira, Mburu Gitu, Neela Ghoshal, Hindpal Jabbal, Krishna Sondhi, Nyawira Muthiga, Sheetal Kapila, Fiona Mati, Ramnik Shah, Shiraz Durrani, Madhukant Shah, Rosemelle Mutoka, Nivi Sharma, Salim Damji, Juzar Hooker, Mark Ojal, Mohinder Dhillon, Karen Rothmyer, Sachen Shah, Akbar Husein, Peter Kiama, Sarah and Felix Kyalo, Karim Hirji

About Awaaz

Awaaz is a magazine published tri-annually out of Nairobi, Kenya. It aims to provide a broad platform for debate and reflection on issues of both contemporary and historical interest. What started off in 2002 as a focus on the role of the South Asian community in the historical, political and socio-economic spheres of Kenya; has now broadened to cover the larger debates on diversity, democracy, human rights and social justice. The magazine also critically examines the role of minorities both as communities in Kenya and East Africa; as well as a concept of human rights in a society be they ethnic, racial, gender based, sexual or political.

AwaaZ has been free and open to the public for the last 20 years during which time we believe you have enjoyed quality, authentic and cutting edged researched material. In order for us to continue offering this service we kindly request that you consider making a small contribution to our work to ensure sustainability of the Magazine. Your patronage and support remains very important to us. In that spirit please make a small donation as small as $10 below.

Support AwaaZ