Jesca Aryemo

Jesca Aryemo was born in Uganda and came to London in 1987. She talks about why she feels her identity is Ugandan and how she feels at home in Uganda in a way that she does not here.

Listen to Jesca (mp3, 529kb)

Transcript

'I see myself as a Ugandan. Although I have lived in England for nearly 20 years, I see myself as a Ugandan. Most probably because I came here when I was already in my 20s. I have developed that strong identity of myself, my culture was something very strong to me. My language, I am so proud of it… 

'I cannot say home is, is England. I most probably would say home is in Uganda. Because when I am in Uganda and I am coming back here, I just say that "I am going back to England". But when I am here and I am going to Uganda I said "I am going back home"…

'I went back home after about 12 years. And I must tell you that as soon as I got home, within a day or two, I found myself I was home. And I found myself more relaxed, more comfortable than ever. And I felt that this is something I have missed, in all these many years, my life in Britain. I continue to say that I would, one day I would go back home and build that home.'

Copyright Evelyn Oldfield Unit