Under The Mango Tree

A powerful true story of courage, resilience, and belonging across three continents.

From the shade of a mango tree on the banks of the Zambezi River to the grey streets of 1970s London, Under The Mango Tree tells the unforgettable story of one family’s journey through upheaval, migration, and hope.

“Under The Mango Tree is one of the most powerful memoirs I have ever read..”

"A great piece of work, 'Under the Mango Tree' is bound to find its rightful place on the shelf of Africa’s diasporic literature of the 20th century."

As independence swept across Africa and new nations emerged, the Asian diaspora faced both opportunity and exclusion.

Soli’s memoir captures the resilience of his mother Zebee, whose courage and determination became the moral compass for her son, and the journey of her son Salman, who sought to find his place in Britain amidst new laws, new cultures, and new challenges.

At once deeply personal and historically revealing, Under The Mango Tree is a memoir about love, family, and the enduring quest for belonging. It is also a testament to the quiet heroism of mothers whose sacrifices shape generations.

Soli Osman was born into a Gujarati Sunni Memon family in Mozambique. Educated partly in southern Africa and later in Britain, he became a lawyer and an advocate for justice, shaped by first-hand experience of migration, displacement, and the challenges faced by immigrant families.

His debut work, Under The Mango Tree, brings together lived experience and historical memory in a narrative that is at once intimate and universal.

Written with honesty and warmth, it pays tribute to his mother, Zebee, and to the countless families who carried their traditions and values across continents.