September is ESEA Heritage Month with the aim to celebrate people of ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) heritage and their culture and history.
East Asia includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Hong Kong and Macau are officially highly autonomous but are under Chinese sovereignty.
Southeast Asia includes Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.
0.7% of the UK population are of Chinese ethnicity. They are the largest ESEA community in the UK, so estimates are that around 1-2% of the population or up to 1.2 million are from other backgrounds and countries East Asian and South East Asia.
What is ESEA Heritage Month?
ESEA Heritage Month was founded by besea.n (Britain’s East and Southeast Asian Network). It is a month-long, collaborative programme of events, dedicated to East and South East Asian heritage, culture, history and everything in between. It’s a chance to celebrate, acknowledge and learn about the incredible ways in which our communities have helped shape the UK.
This year’s theme is “Roots/Routes,” an exploration of cultural identity and belonging. We invite you to delve into the narratives of family journeys and stories, celebrating the rich tapestry of experiences that contribute to our diverse and vibrant heritages.
Find out more about the upcoming events this month.
