Culturepulse magazine issue 26

Issue No 26

August 2014

Can Africa feed the world?

The Black Dr of Paddington 5G is coming

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Published by Culturepulse through Issuu.

Editor - David Kalloo

Contents......

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House of Ashes p.4

A Dangerous preoccupation p.4

culutrepulse@hotmail.co.uk

Forced marriages a thing of the past... p.6

www.issuu.com/culturepulse

Prostate Cancer UK p.7 Zero Five Fifty p.9

twitter: @culturepulse1

Can Africa Time feed on theyour world? handsp.8 p.12

Contributing writers: Ansel Wong, Mas Assassin, Nichola MacDonald, Soshina Stephen, Nasser Khan (Trinidad), Caroline Muraldo, Jimmy Kainja (Malawi), Akilah Holder-Stewart (Trinidad), Tessa Robinson, Pax Nindi, R.Kalloo, D.A.Kalloo, Juliet Davey.

5G is coming p.13 Awards p.15 Sommelier Notting Hill at 50? p.19 The Black Dr of Paddington p.17

Photography contributions: Chris Boothman, Linda Kalcov, David Wears and Cashewmedia

Claudia Did you know? p.20 Jones p.23

Book ReviewBook p.21 Review p.29

Culturepulse magazine is developed and produced by Cashewmedia and Culturepulse.

NHC, what does 50 years mean? p. 31

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent from the publisher.

The Missing pages of England's History p.33

The views expressed by contributors to Culturepulse magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team.

Copyright to some contributions are those of the authors and permission for any reproduction or use in any form should be obtained directly from the authors themselves.

Culturepulse accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracy by contributors or for advertising content therein.

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A dangerous preoccupation: fatness in the black community

states that, “the ideal of feminine beauty in Mauritania, a country one-and-a-half times the size of Texas and blanketed in desert, is like America's cult of superthinness in reverse. Mauritanian tradition holds that among women, rolling layers of fat are the height of sexiness.” Mauritania is a West African nation. Abigail Haworth, senior international editor at Marie Claire reports in the article – Forced to be Fat – that young girls are sent to fat houses or fat camps in Mauritania where they are forced fed in preparation for marriage. They are fed a diet of goat’s milk, oily couscous, pounded millet mixed with water and made to eat their own vomit if they throw up. The process continues until these young girls, from the age of 7 even, have gotten to the desired size.

by Akilah Holder-Stewart

In 2004, Californian cosmetologist, Apryl Michelle Brown, visited a “pumper” – an unlicensed person – for an illegal butt injection, and by 2006, she had developed a serious infection that resulted in the amputation of all of her limbs in 2012.

Her story was featured in the November 2012 issue of Essence. In the interview, Brown recalled being teased throughout her life for her flat “pancake” booty. So desperate had she become to have a bigger and fuller behind, that she resorted to visiting a “pumper” to have the bottom that she had always desired; and as noted before, the outcome was disastrous. The “pumper” injected industrial grade silicone into her buttock according to the Essence feature.

Bbc.com reports that fattening rooms or “fat houses” exist too in the Nigerian city of Calabar. Happiness, a native of Nigeria states in the report that “…after eating, you can take a bath. From there you can sleep, you sleep fine, you wake up, you eat, you sleep.” Happiness spent six months in the fattening room “at the request of her husband Morris Eyo Edem, leading up to their wedding.” At the end of the six months, she had grown quite corpulent.

She goes on to say that fatness is a sign of wealth, as the rich often take advantage of the “fat houses” and any woman who has not gone through the fatting process does not qualify for marriage.

Brown is one of an increasing number of black women who are opting for illegal butt injections to increase the size of their bottoms. In fact, more and more black women are getting such injections as reported by dailybeast.com. AfricanAmerican dermatologist, Dr. Lisa Ginn, is quoted on dailybeast.com as stating that this is so because the groundwork for such cosmetic surgical procedures is already there in the black community – the fascination in the black community with bigness.

Thus, “the fattening room is at the center of a centuries-old rite of passage from maidenhood to womanhood. The months spent in pursuit of poundage are supplemented by daily visits from elderly matrons who impart tips on how to be a successful wife and mother…,” as stated in Where Fat Is a Mark of Beauty, by L.A. Times staff writer Ann M. Simmons. So, “in contrast to many Western cultures

In effect, Brown’s case acts as a pivot for my research into this preoccupation that blacks have with fatness. This preoccupation, I have since discovered, has its roots in Africa. Marieclaire.com 4

where thin is in, many culture-conscious people in the Efik and other communities in Nigeria’s southeastern Cross River state hail a woman’s rotundity as a sign of good health, prosperity and allure.” The same beliefs are held in other African nations as in the case of Mauritania.

Road” and the experiences of Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam as talked about in an interview with CTV anchor Paul Richards, where she stated that she was often teased for being skinny, with one guy lamenting that she needed some “meat on her bones”.

So while African-American author, Alice Randall, came under some heat for her recent nytimes op-ed on Black Women and Fat, where she posits that black women are fat because they want to be and that is a result of the black community lionizing fatness, she may not be that wrong. In fact, she herself has confessed that as a child growing up in the sixties, she would pray for big thighs like those of her dance teacher; she recalled the horror she felt upon hearing songs like Joe Tex’s 1967 “Skinny legs and all” in which Tex decries slender women and glorifies big women by suggesting that it is difficult for a slender woman, worse yet, a skinny one, to attract a mate: “"Hey Joe", "Yeah Bobby?

"Why don't you take her?", "You a fool? I don't want no woman with no skinny legs."”

But this fascination is not o.k., for some black women may take things as far as Brown did. The fact is, if you are fed with a certain belief system over and over again, you come to believe it as true, as reality; you internalize it and begin to see yourself as an anomaly so that you start craving “the norm” as “the norm” is presented to you. This is how white Europeans and then white Americans convinced blacks that they were inferior.

Some may argue that it is culture and you shouldn’t get involved; the West has its way of doing things, the East another. But culture is manmade as a pastor’s wife put it some years ago, and so, not always accurate.

Apart from the plastic surgery concerns, there is also the obesity concern. The marieclaire.com article above cites a West African doctor, Dr. Mohammed Ould Madene who states that, “the fat ideal is ‘a grave matter of public health.” The article goes on to state that he is “alarmed by the number of patients he sees with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and depression.

He mentions the recent case of a girl who was rushed to clinic unconscious. ‘She was only 14, but so huge that her heart had almost collapsed under the strain’.

Lonnae O’Neal Parker in his Washington Post article, Black Women Heavier and Happier with their bodies than White Women, Poll finds, recalls his “big aunties” when he was a child jumping up to dance to “Brick House” by the Commodores in 1977. “She’s a brick house/Mighty just letting it all hang out/she’s a brick house/the lady’s stacked and that’s a fact.”

Trinidad and Tobago has a similar culture as evidenced in Lord Kitchener’s 1970 hit, “Sugar Bum Bum” – “Audrey wey you get dat sugar/darling there is nothing sweeter/You torture me, de way you wine/I love to see your fat behind” And then there is Machel Montano’s “Big Truck”, Iwer George’s “Bottom in de

So while we have accepted fatness as o.k., and we glorify it, sing songs about it and while some of us boast in it, it is a dangerous preoccupation. Thus, it must be re-examined and tossed out.

Author’s e-mail: akilahholder@yahoo.com 5

Set in a specially created tented village in Charlotte Square Gardens in the heart of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh International Book Festival offers something for just about every age and every interest, bringing readers and writers together for inspiration, entertainment and discussion.

We welcome more than 800 authors in over 700 events each year including novelists, poets, scientists, philosophers, sportsmen, illustrators, comics creators, historians, musicians, biographers, environmentalists, economists, Nobel and Booker prize-winners and many more.

For further information please contact: boxoffice@edbookfest.co.uk admin@edbookfest.co.uk or telephone +44(0)845 373 5888 for admin call +44(0)131 718 5666 6

determined to spread the message about prostate cancer and the importance of speaking to a health professional about the disease.

Suresh Rambaran is a member of the band and a Specialist Prostate Cancer Nurse at Prostate Cancer UK. He comments; “Carnival reaches the people like nothing else and it’s a smooth move for Prostate Cancer UK and La Trinity to get together in this way to catch attention with a message that matters. An alarming one in four of us black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime but most have no idea of their special vulnerability to the disease. We still don’t know exactly why our community faces higher risk but we do know that the earlier the cancer is detected, the more treatable it is.

Awareness of your risk and speaking to your doctor about it is therefore essential.

“I’ve been going to Notting Hill Carnival since 1978 - nowhere on earth compares to the vibrant, party atmosphere and I can’t wait to be part of it again. If you’re planning to come along, look out for La Trinity and the Prostate Cancer UK float and ask your partners, dads and brothers if they’ve spoken to their doctor about their prostate cancer risk. It could save their life.”

La Trinity Carnival Band gets set to shout about prostate cancer at Notting Hill Carnival La Trinity Carnival Band is gearing up to raise awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival. One in four black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime – double the lifetime risk faced by all men in the UK. Urging black African and African Caribbean men to wise up to their risk of the disease, the 150-people-strong costume band will be out in force with Prostate Cancer UK volunteers to highlight the dangers – and what people can do about it.

Prostate Cancer UK has launched a campaign to find the answers behind the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men. To find out more and to help spread the word visit: www.prostatecanceruk.org/blackcommunity

A recent survey carried out by YouGov for Prostate Cancer UK revealed that nine in ten black men (90%), who are at higher than average risk of prostate cancer, are unaware of their increased vulnerability, and over two thirds (69%) of black men admitted that, even if they were aware but didn’t have any symptoms, they wouldn’t speak to their GP about it. It means thousands of black men may miss out on being diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment for the disease is most effective.

For further information about prostate cancer or to speak to a Specialist Prostate Cancer Nurse like Suresh, call 0800 074 8383 or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org.

With its Trinidadian inspired roots, La Trinity has been taking part in the carnival for over 20 years. This year the band is 7

Can Africa feed the world?

By D.T. Kalloo The media have always presented us with images of Africa as a continent of starving population and one of utter destitution. In reality, Africa is a thriving continent. Like any other continent and country, Africa has its problems too. Let us not forget and, I borrow a few words from Walter Rodney ‘Europe Underdeveloped Africa.’

Today, very little has changed, Europe continues to stagnate Africa’s development with economic and other policies seemingly meant on dragging Africa back into the dark ages.

Africa is now being targeted as the new world food basket by large industrial agricultural corporation including China, Brazil the US and Europe. Nearly 98% of crops grown by foreign industries in African is shipped out of the continent bound for the supermarkets in the western world for consumption while in the very countries these crops are grown there is famine and starvation and lack of medical facilities and clean water. In Kenya where the country is face with dire need for fresh drinking water, this problem hardly affects the growing of roses and mange tout that reaches British supermarkets.

The poor infrastructure in many African farming communities mean that the cost of what they pay for fertilisers are at least 82% higher than those of farmers in say, Thailand or India. Apart from the inadequate infrastructure, the continent is plagued with corruption in governments, something that is inherent and blighted former colonial nations. Civil unrest and wars also contribute to the problems faced on the continent that severely hampers infrastructure.

So why is multinational corporations heading to the African continent for a world food solution? According to an Argentine agronomist Miguel Bosch who said. ‘If you were to send God a letter asking for the best soil and climate conditions for farming. He would send you to northern Mozambique, it’s a paradise for growers.’ Fertile farmland, like water is becoming a commodity in its own right

As well as harvested crops not finding its way into local consumption, Africa’s agricultural progress is unable to flourish with the ‘green revolution’ enabling farmers to increase crop yields through fertiliser, irrigation and improved seeds which, through exorbitant cost have stagnated African farmers.

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no investment’ the World Bank have taken an initiative and provided investment where farmers and other entrepreneurs have benefited. Almost one in three Sub Saharan Africans now own a mobile phone enabling them to run small businesses, transfer money and mobile banking. This has eliminated the need to travel long distances to facilitate these transactions.

These are small steps that are constantly making a difference in improving the lives of those who were hampered by the lack of these services.

and, its value is escalating wherever these commodities exists today. Thus global corporations are moving in with all their stealth to hood-winked those countries into accepting very little in return for multimillion dollar profits for these foreign corporations.

One Chinese corporation have bulldozed hundreds of farms near Xai-Xai in Mozambique to make way for their 50,000 acre farm along the stretch of the Limpopo River Delta. Not only does this affect lands and rights for small farmers but could cut off the vital water supply for the remaining farmers along that region.

Meeting the challenges for food production cannot remain in a primeval state, which in the case with almost 70% of farmers working on one acre plots.

Kick starting an agricultural revolution means that poor farmers will eventually lose out if large corporations don’t invest with these said farmers. Without a doubt, the agricultural development in Africa needs a massive cash investment infrastructure, incorporating both private and governmental directives providing technology and cooperation with small and medium farmers, alongside large corporations. This way all parties profit from their investment and significantly reducing famine, unemployment and poverty not just in Africa but further afield.

To add insult to injury, no one from the thousands who have lost their farms to the Wanbao African Agricultural Development Company have been compensated. Since 2007 there has been record prices for corn, soybeans, wheat and rice. This meant that large corporations were eager to invest and lease fertile lands where acreage is cheap and in many cases where property rights are ignored.

In Ethiopia, a country ravaged by famine, the situation for local farmers is dire.

Farmers are not reaching their potential yield. Many of them are still using hand tools and animals for ploughing, planting and harvesting. This method is hampering farmers from maximising harvest where they currently produce a third below the average harvest. One third of Ethiopia’s population are malnourished and the government are slow in courting industrial farms to aid in closing the gap that could potentially, not only feed the country but also export the surplus.

Educating farmers and people in rural districts have also been one hurdle that has been successfully addressed in recent years. After almost 25 years of ‘virtually 9

It must be said that some corporations have moved to educating, training and employing affected farmers. In Mozambique for example, one Chinese company have built roads, schools, an airport, a soccer stadium and other facilities in what some say are curry favouring the government. It is claimed that with 89 million acres of arable land, so far some six million acres have been leased mainly to foreign investors. The downside to these investments are that there is no infrastructure for maintenance and 99% of all profits is siphoned out of these countries so despite investment Africa continues to be stagnated by underdevelopment.

All is not doom and gloom however with smaller farmers. One in many a success stories is a farmer in Zambia who has turned the country from a banana importing nation to one that now export its crops. The 3,500 acre banana plantation employs nearly 3000 people year round.

The large scale farm has helped to bring electricity to nearby villages, improved roads, water and new schools to the area and on top of that enabling local labour thus enhancing the quality of life where it would not have been possible as small independent farmers who hawked their produce in local markets.

Landesa, a Seattle based company is working in conjunction with small famers to secure their land rights and supporting a leveraging so both farmers and investors yield benefits from productivity and thriving markets. In this way the potential for jobs, infrastructure and food production and security are enhanced benefiting communities on a whole. Many small farmers are happy to give up their farms and work for the large industrial farms without hesitation.

According to natgoefood.com by 2050 we will need to feed over 2 billion people and food production corporations are now looking towards the fertile farmlands of Africa to do so. With African regions rapidly urbanising, losing farmers in its wake, the belief is that modern farming technology is the key to making Africa the potential breadbasket of the world.

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African Festival 2014

Come and celebrate African culture at a festival in Trafalgar Square.

The festival is organised by the Mayor of London as [part of the Black History Month 2014 celebrations. There's something for everyone at this free family event.

The packed line-up includes live music, fashion, dance, stalls, food, plus lots of activities for kids.

African Festival 11 October 2014 Trafalgar Square 12pm to 6pm Admission Free 11

You are cordially invited to the Black Canadian Mayoral Forum proudly presented by the Diversity Advancement Network.

having a few candidates running for Councillor in attendance to briefly talk about why they are running for office. We will also be having a few other interesting fun activities and celebrations at this event. You can also send us your questions or suggestions through email or the registration form.

This is an opportunity to meet and hear directly from the candidates running for Mayor in the city of Toronto on topics that really matter.

The evening promises to be an exciting one as Mayor Rob Ford, John Tory, Olivia Chow, Dewitt Lee and Karen Stintz have all confirmed their attendance. Several Community & Organization leaders, Artists, Business Professionals as well as regular / people of influence are also expected to be present. Invitation to this great event is open to anyone interested in attending and not restricted to any race, age or gender.

If you don't live n Toronto you can still attend. We will be

The event details are outlined below: Date: Friday, August 29th, 2014 Time: 5:00 pm - 9:30pm Venue: Novotel Hotel, 3 Park Home Avenue, Toronto, ON M2N 6L3 Entry Cost: Admission is Free but we recommend seat reservations on http://blackcanadians.com or through email blackcanadians@gmail.com

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5G technology on its way.

Your advertisement

When 4G was introduced we were told that it was the new supersonic speed technology for mobile devices, it turned out that 4G took longer to get out of the starting blocks and left us all waiting for its adrenalin to kick in.

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Well hold on to your horses’ folks, 5G is on its way. The new ultra-fast mobile connectivity that will be with us by 2020.

It promises to be 100 times faster than the current 4G. Surprise, surprise developers of the new technology claims it would be faster than 4G. Let’s be honest, you would expect it to be, wouldn’t you?

the next issue of Culturepulse magazine.

A collection of universities and Huawei, the world’s giant in telecoms equipment maker are working collectively in developing 5G. The new 5G will allow you to download a two and a half hour movie in just 4 seconds, compared to six minutes with the present 4G.

for further information and our advertising rates call:

Developers say the new technology would not only be faster but will allow mobile operators to ‘blanket huge swathes of the less developed world in ultrafast data connectivity without the cost of huge underground fibre rollout.’ It means the new technology will benefit and boost online services and access to information to compete globally. The EU is currently investing over 700m Euros (£554m) while other companies are pouring in an additional 3bn Euros for 5G development.

07920752131 or email culturepulse@ hotmail.co.uk 13

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The 2014 London African Music Festival will again run for 10 days across 16 venues in London.

The festival is being produced by 10 producers under the direction of founder Biyi Adepegba of Joyful Noise.

LAMF line-up features: Bombino (Niger), Sekouba Bambino (Guinea), Kanda Bongoman (Congo), vocalist Ghalia Benali (Tunisia), Rise Kagona of Bhundu Boys fame (Malawi), King Ayisoba (Ghana), vovalist Coco Mbassi (Cameroon) and violist Samy Bishai (Egypt).

Making their London debut are Malian singer Mamani Keita (Mali) and Swedish/Senagalese couple SouSou and Maher Cissoko. DJ Voodoo Funk (aka DJ Frank Gossner) presents his treasure of vinyl records he collected on his travels through Africa.

Two mainstay of British-African misic guitarist Abdul Tee-Jay (Sierra Leone) and pianist Juwon Ogungbe (UK/Nigeria) play solo in the afternoon at Green Note Club. The British-Ghanaian funk band Yaaba Funk and Nigerian afrobeat band The Rhythms are two bands that know how to put the funk in the grooves adding to the ten days of wonderful music.

"The London African Music Festival is an impressively eclectic affair" Robin Denselow, The Guardian

This year's festival venues: The Forge, Islington Assembly Hall, The Vortex Jazz Club, Green Note Club, Upstairs at the Ritzy, Rich Mix, Hackney Attic, Charlton House, Cafe Oto, Passing Clouds, The Flyover Portobello, Canada Water Culture Space, Cargo, The Tabernacle, Hootananny Brixton, Union Chapel.

For further information check: joyfulnoise.co.uk Twitter: @the_lamf Facebook: facebook.com/LondonAfricanMusicFestival 15

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Dr Alcindor, the 'Black doctor of Paddington'.

By D.Kalloo On Wednesday 16th July the Nubian Jak Community Trust unveiled a Blue Heritage Plaque in honour of Dr John Alcindor at The Medical Centre, Harrow Road. Many of the guest gathered at the ceremony had no idea, or had never heard of Dr John Alcindor, known as the 'Black doctor of Paddington'.

Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago Mrs Reshma Bissoon-Dookie said "Dr Alcindor's achievements in the medical and military fields as well as his ardour for service and racial equality, serve as a testament to the impact one can have on society regardless of origin."

Dr Alcindor went beyond his medical profession, he was a keen cricketer and championed social and political issues in his community. He gave over 1000 hours of service to the British Red Cross and made over 1500 home visits as a doctor in the Paddington district. Historian Jeff Green said; "For over 20 years Dr Alcindor aided thousands of people in Paddington. His death was a great loss to the sick and to the Caribbean and African community."

So who was John Alcindor? Dr Alcindor was born in Trinidad in 1873. He studied at St Mary's College in Port of Spain and later at Edinburgh University.

Having been rejected by the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1914 because of his colonial origin, in other words being black, he became a volunteer with the British Red Cross and served helping returning wounded soldiers from the battlefields of the first World War. In recognition for his services with the Red Cross he was honoured with the Red Cross Medal after the war.

Honouring Dr John at a time when the world marks the centenary of WW1 is a fitting tribute to a son of African/Caribbean heritage when most of the colonial efforts have been virtually erased.

Dr Alcindor went on to serve his community in Paddington in his capacity as a medical doctor and later became the district medical officer for Paddington in 1921 and served until his death in 1924.

The Blue Plaque in honour of Dr John Alcindor was made possible through the Nubian Jak Community Trust with support from the Edward Harvist Trust.

Professor Gus John in paying tribute to a great Caribbean son offered 'libation' with a flask of rum, a tradition common in most African cultures. He said the unveiling of the Blue Plaque was a fitting tribute to Dr Alcindor as many of our great sons and daughters have been 'airbrushed out of British history'. The Acting High

For information about the Nubian Jak Community Trust email: info@nubianjak.com or visit www.nubianjak.com or call 0800 093 0400

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Did you know?

Did you know that eating grapefruit for breakfast is harmful if under certain medication from your doctor? As many as 85 medications prescribed by doctors can cause increased blood levels, calcium blocking, cholesterol lowering statins, antibiotics and certain clot-busting medications are among those affected by drinking grapefruit juice or consuming the fruit itself. If in doubt please contact your pharmacist at once.

Did you know that it is becoming harder for the KKK to recruit new members?

Things have become so dire that the KKK are now offering young children sweets in Oconee County, South Carolina in an effort to lure them into becoming members.

Did you know that the amount of wind turbines bursting into flames are 10 times higher than what is currently reported? A spokesperson for the Imperial College said, 'The figure of 1 in 7 is inaccurate and its more in the region of 117.'

Did you know that your dishwasher is not as efficient as you may have thought in cleaning your dishes? A study in almost 100 cities in six continents found that the rubber around the door in 62% of dishwashers contain a fungus potentially dangerous to health. The black yeast can resist heat, salt and aggressive detergents.

Back to brillo pads, vim and ashes.

Did you know that the Embankment lamps are an iconic functional part of the river Thames? In 1870 the Metropolitan Board of Works advertised various designs for the lamps on the Victorian Embankment for the public to decide. The two chosen were George Vulliamy's 'dolphin lamp' and Joseph Bazalgette's classical tripod lamps with iron motifs.

Did you know that the bronze lions that sit at the foot of Nelson's column Trafalgar Square are called The Landseer Lions?

They were named after their creator, Sir Edward Landseer and made from melted down cannons from the defeated fleets in the Battle of Trafalgar. They were finished in 1867 a decade late and surprise, surprise hugely over budget.

Did you know you could indulge .in a whole new exciting world of face painting at Charles H Fox in London? Go and explore the wonders of face painting with the kids or just be a kid yourself and have some fun.

Charles H Fox 22 Tavistock Street, London

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Book Review.....

By Rhianna Kalloo

Tom Barbash's collection of short stories, Stay Up With Me, is a collection that is intriguing, humorous, and can be considered to be a mirror showing us what makes us human - our emotions and relationships with those around us.

Each of Barbash's stories explores some of the most difficult and tumultuous emotions that human beings can face at any given moment through any of our interactions.

Barbash has created a collection that oozes verisimilitude and conveys the same intimacy of a close friend sharing anecdotes, by using his writing to mirror human emotions and behaviour in our everyday lives - showing that every day holds the potential for incredulity, disaster and love.

Barbash has created a collection of short stories that are thought-provoking, making the reader think about our emotions and experiences by making the situations in all of the stories feel realistic and absorbing, but yet - on occasions - unpredictable and frustrating. Stories such as The Break and Letters From The Academy explore frustration, nurturing and the pain of having to let go; while Somebody's Son and Birthday Girl explore the unlikely connections and relationships we form with those around us, and Balloon Night tackles the task of saving face despite being caught in a maelstrom of emotions.

Tom Barbash at the London launch of his new book with Rhianna Kalloo

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