Category: News (Page 1 of 43)

Many of our members will know Selma Carvalho, who put together the Souvenir brochure to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Goan Association (UK) in 2026.   Selma is an historian in her own right and is the author of three non-fiction books documenting the Goan presence in colonial East Africa between 2011-2014.   Selma also directed a £40,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund UK, through the Goan Association (UK),  to document the oral histories of East African Goans who later emigrated to Britain, now archived at the British Library and Bexley Libraries.

Selma Carvalho announces the release of her latest book Guts, Glory and Empire: The Epic Story of Goans in Zanzibar, 1865-1910. This book traces the arrival of the original Goan families in Zanzibar, their lives, their achievements, their wealth, and their eventual decline, death or move to Mombasa and Nairobi. This is the most comprehensive book on the subject and will be of interest to all East African Goans residing in the UK. There is a lot of family history in the book and you might even be able to trace your own history there.

First look at Guts, Glory & Empire: The Epic Story of Goans in Zanzibar, 1865-1910

Ordering details are in this link:  https://thedogearsbookshop.com/shop/books/non-fiction/diaspora-studies/guts-glory-and-empire-the-epic-story-of-goans-in-zanzibar-1865-1910/?v=13b5bfe96f3e

Congratulations to our second Centenarian! Francisco de Sales Jose Couto

‘Fanchic’ to those who know him, is the sixth and youngest child of Andre Piede Couto and Jovita Clarina Sequeira Couto.

He was born in Goa, on 29th January 1926 as was educated at St. Thomas in Aldona.  Upon completing his education, he then sailed to Mombasa, Kenya where he lived with his sister, Mariquinha Castelino and her family.

He joined Barclays Bank, Mombasa in 1950 as a clerk and his dedication and hard work was rewarded with a posting to the Seychelles where he worked for 3 years. In 1964 he moved to Nairobi, Kenya and married Marie Da Gama.  In Nairobi, he quickly rose to the top at Market Branch where his integrity and professionalism earned him a reputation as a ‘no-nonsense’ banker, both amongst his peers and those above him.

He retired at the age of 55 and now enjoys a well-deserved pension for longer than his years of service! Although not tech savvy, he gets along with the GenZ, the Millennials and Boomers too and attributes his longevity to his spirituality and his passion for gardening.

His daughter, Carmen and son-in-law Gerald tend to his every need, while he and Marie continue to be doting grandparents to their three adult grandchildren.

Read about our first Centenial …