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Kololo Hill

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About this listen

From the green hilltops of Kampala to the terraced houses of London, Neema Shah’s extraordinarily moving debut Kololo Hill explores what it means to leave your home behind, what it takes to start again and the lengths some will go to protect their loved ones.

When you’re left with nothing but your secrets, how do you start again?

Uganda 1972

A devastating decree is issued: all Ugandan Asians must leave the country in 90 days. They must take only what they can carry, give up their money and never return.

For Asha and Pran, married a matter of months, it means abandoning the family business that Pran has worked so hard to save. For his mother, Jaya, it means saying goodbye to the house that has been her home for decades. But violence is escalating in Kampala, and people are disappearing. Will they all make it to safety in Britain, and will they be given refuge if they do?

And all the while, a terrible secret about the expulsion hangs over them, threatening to tear the family apart.

©2021 Neema Shah (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Limited City Life Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction South Asian Creators Urban World Literature Africa

Critic reviews

"[An] incredible debut." (Stylist)

"Shah is excellent on the theme of home...an absorbing storyteller." (Daily Mail)
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This was beautifully read and the narrator deserves full credit for doing such a wonderful job. The storyline however, really failed to deliver. This is just a barely fictionalised biographical work where nothing much happens. The "big secret" was nothing of the sort, I kept waiting for it but the book just fizzles out as if the author lost steam.

There was no punchline.

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Very well narrated story of complex Asian family relationships with a backdrop of incredible tragedy and loss after the Uganda expulsion.

Engaging , heart wrenching and very relatable

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A heartbreaking story told with tenderness and love. I adored the characters and I'm sure I'll re read it as I miss them already!

Stunning

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Wonderful debut. I listened to the audio book and the narration by Aysha Kala is superb. It's a fascinating story. I remember the arrival of Ugandan Asians as a child, and how much Britain benefited. Memorable characters, fabulous structure and a wonderful ending, that might just be a beginning.

Wonderful debut

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dragged on in some places but was an overall good read. Recommended
narrator was truly excellent

Great story.

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