Following the success of its Golf Day in April 2025, the East African Asians (EAA) community hosted a memorable Social and Nostalgic Evening on Saturday, 6 December 2025, at the popular Blue Room in Harrow.
Nearly 300 East African Asians, along with their families and friends, gathered for the much-anticipated reunion. Demand for the event grew rapidly, and organisers were compelled to cap attendance in line with venue capacity, leaving many disappointed. The overwhelming response clearly highlighted the need for early booking for future EAA events.
The organisers expressed sincere gratitude to all event sponsors, whose support made the evening possible. Sponsors were acknowledged across various social media platforms. While sponsorship interest exceeded expectations, numbers had to be limited for logistical reasons. Encouragingly, most existing sponsors, along with several new ones, have already expressed interest in supporting future events.
The evening was graced by a distinguished list of invited guests, including Shree C.B. Patel, H.E. Nimisha Madhvani, The Worshipful Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel, Tony Matharu of Integrity International, Cllrs Mina Parmar and Kanti Rabadia, Subhash Thakrar OBE, Jaffer Kapasi OBE, and Nitin Ganatra OBE, former EastEnders star, and now also an Artist and Master of Ceremony.
Several prominent media organisations supported and covered the event, including Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar, Lyca Radio, and Out and About (part of ZEE TV). Special appreciation was extended to Dhruv Gadhvi for capturing the spirit of the evening in his distinctive style. The event was broadcast on ZEE TV on Sunday, 21 December 2025 at 5:00 pm.
Attendees represented almost every community, evoking memories of the harmonious, close-knit life once shared in East Africa, free from cultural, religious, or social barriers. Guests travelled from across London, the Home Counties, the Midlands, and even from the United States, reflecting the global reach of the East African Asian diaspora.
Speeches were delivered by Harshad Kothari (opening and closing remarks), Tony Matharu, Cllr Anjana Patel, Shree CB Patel, and HE Nimisha Madhvani. While speeches formed an important part of the evening, organisers hinted that the next planned event will place an even stronger emphasis on entertainment and celebration.
Among the highlights were goodie bags provided by headline sponsors Sandea Wholesale, and an exciting raffle featuring two return flight tickets to East Africa as first prizes. The raffle was a joint collaboration between Citibond Travel and Kenya Airways, with prizes presented by Hitesh Mehta, CEO of Citibond Travel, and Puneeta Abero of Kenya Airways.
Music played a central role in the evening, with a vibrant performance by Nitu Shah and her colleagues. Alongside popular Bollywood hits, Nitu delighted guests with much-loved Swahili songs, stirring deep nostalgia and, for some, emotional memories of their East African roots.
In a personal message, Shree CB Patel shared his appreciation, “Dear Harshad, heartiest congratulations for an imaginative and well-executed project. Your forward thinking, planning, and ability to inspire talented individuals and entrepreneurs is commendable. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are with you. Well done.”
Invited guest Subhash Thakrar OBE remarked, “Harshad and his committee put on a great event packed with nostalgic Bollywood and African songs, good food, and thoughtful speeches. This is now the only platform where East African Asians meet. This group has demonstrated remarkable resilience and success in all sectors.”
Rt Hon Shailesh Vara (Former MP and Justice Minister) wrote, “Congratulations to Harshad Kothari for this very worthwhile initiative. A particular aspect that I like is that it chronicles the history of the East African Asian community.
“The community has a formidable story to tell, covering generations of families across many countries as well as continents.
“It is important for today's generation, and those that will follow, to know of the struggles, the hardships, and the challenges faced by their forefathers, as well as their triumphs and successes. I wish the organisation well for the future."
Tony Matharu, Integrity International Group wrote, “There has never been a timelier moment to recognise the significant contribution of East African Asians to the UK across economic, professional, cultural, and civic life.
“Through the establishment and leadership of the East African Asian organisation, Harshad Kothari has united the diaspora and built strong support across wider communities. The success of EAA’s well-attended events reflects this vision and highlights the enduring energy, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit of East African Asians”
Numerous other positive messages followed, praising this unique initiative led by Harshad Kothari and his team, which continues to strengthen community bonds and preserve shared heritage.
Photo courtesy:
Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix
