| Rich History of the Yemenis community |
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| Written by Malcolm Dick, Millennibrum Project | |
| Wednesday, 01 November 2000 | |
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Rich History of the Yemenis who came to Birmingham The Yemeni community in Britain can be traced back to 1885. The Yemen was then part of the British Empire and the first settlers were sailors who had served on British merchant ships or soldiers in the British army. The best known contemporary Yemeni in Britain is the boxer Prince Naseem Hamid, but the Yemeni community in Birmingham has a rich history. The first Yemenis came to Birmingham in the early 20th century to find work in the local metal-bashing trades, but industrial decline led to unemployment and many left the UK from the 1970s. This area is still a source of employment, but the community has diversified, improving educational qualifications and setting up in a variety of businesses. Local organisations and self-help groups have emerged such as the Mu'ath Welfare Trust, the Yemeni Women's Association and the Yemeni Development Foundation. The YDF is a Birmingham organisation but one with national significance. Under its founder and Chief Executive, Mohammed Almasyabi, it engages in the development of small disadvantaged ethnic minority groups through work such as management training, advocacy, resource development and publicity campaigns. The YDF has played a role in recent conferences and initiatives devoted to the needs of hidden minorities, international development, regional policy and education. It has also been involved in the creation of exhibitions and television programmes. The best-known local Yemeni is Shaikh Muhammad Qassim al'Alawi who died in Birmingham in 1999 at the age of ninety. As a boy he looked after sheep in the Yemeni village of Shamir, but in 1925 at the age of 15 he moved to Cardiff and joined the British merchant navy. After seeing the world he joined the Cardiff branch of the 'Alawl Sufi Order and dedicated the rest of his life to religion and public service. By the 1940s, Birmingham possessed a small Yemeni community. Many married local women and lost contact with their Islamic roots. There were few opportunities for them to practise their religion. In 1941 Shaikh Muhammad moved to Balsall Heath where many Yemenis had their homes. He set up the city's first zawiya or centre for prayer and became the spiritual leader and guide of the community for nearly sixty years. His significance spread beyond Birmingham. When he died the brother of the President of the Yemen attended his funeral. Most of the information in this article is obtained by courtesy of the Yemeni Development Foundation, Magnolia House, 73 Conybere Street, Highgate, Birmingham B12 OYL. Tel: 0121 685 1800. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . More details about the Yemeni community can be obtained from the YDF website: www.ydf.org.uk Originally published in the Millennibrum Supplement, "Black History in Birmingham", The Birmingham Post, November 1 2000. |
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