I wrote a short story called If Birds Could Fly published in Channel 4’s TN4 Magazine. You can download the short story here: ifbirdscouldfly.pdf
I also wrote the screenplay for the film Shrouded and have co-produced it through Silsila Productions. Have a look on the films page for the stills and press release. We have produced two versions of the film. One of a more educational nature (with lesson plans) which is 15 minutes long. The other (a more cinematic version) is planned for editing in August 2010 and will be 30 minutes long.
Ayesha's Rainbow.
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REVIEWS
RAGEH OMAR “Ayesha’s Rainbow’s strength is that it is written by someone who has lived, worked and tried to understand her community, its problems and failures from a position of wanting to understand it with empathy. At its heart, the book’s optimism lies in the honest way in which Rabina Khan shows how the white families and Asian Muslim families come to rebuild a new sense of British identity. It was not done by all generations of Asian locking themselves away and forcing a completely western, British identity on their Asian neighbours. It happened by a joint embrace of the open, constantly shifting idea of what it means to be British. Rabina Khan has written a book which surprises educates and engrosses the reader.”
ROBERTA TAYLOR (“My mother lived in E1 for a while in the late eighties and enjoyed herself teaching English to her neighbour’s wife. My very own Mrs. Peters. A book like this, telling life from the inside needs to be written. Thank you so much. I wish you great success.”
TONYA LESLIE (Editor of Ayesha’s Rainbow) “Rabina Khan’s second novel, Ayesha’s Rainbow is a bold take on the complexity of racism in London and is especially timely. This novel speaks to the destructive nature of prejudice, the barriers that ignorance builds and reminsd us all that we alone hold the key to change.”
ANILA BAIG (The Sun) “I read Ayesha’s Rainbow in virtually one sitting which shows how grippes I was by the characters and their situation. It is a simple story of friendship and how it can overcome deep-seated prejudices on both sides of the community. Part moving, part shocking, I would recommend this book to young people, whatever their background, to show what happens when hates gets out of control but we have to remember that, like the rainbow of the title, good can come out of tragedy.”
EMDAD RAHMAN (Editor: Euro Bangla) “Anyone who is interested in social change and the part which community harmony has to play in that, must read this book. The content itself is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Rather than indulging in hypocritical, politically correct posturing, it should be admitted by everyone Asian/white relations have suffered from serious and complex problems in the past, and that these have and must continue to be tackled from both sides of the divide. ”
I have also edited Silent Voices and Behind the Hijab for Monsoon Press.
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Silent Voices is anthology of contemporary writing by five British Somali writers who powerfully express their views of being Somali in Britain, covering some of the controversial issues that have impacted each of their lives. The book was born as part of Monsoon Press’s Hidden Voices Programme funded by the Arts Council and has enabled previously unknown writers to product this fascinating and touching collection of extraordinary literary pieces.
After more than a century of Somali presence in the UK, there is still a lack of knowledge about who they are. Many are misrepresented and the assumption is made that all are asylum seekers, are involved in crime gangs or are uneducated and unskilled. Silent Voices attempts to dispel some of these bigoted perceptions by presenting to the world a wealth of hidden talent from five writers who find expression through their eloquent prose and poetry.
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Silent Voices - Extraordinary Literary Talent from Five British Somali Writers
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