Sri Lankan Diaspora with Zaynab Zubair

Diaspora Women Finding Voice: Zaynab Zubair on Identity, Culture, and Creative Belonging

Dee Gibson | Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot

In a powerful episode of Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot, host Dee Gibson sits down with Sri Lankan writer Zaynab Zubair to explore what it means to be a woman of the Sri Lankan diaspora—navigating the intersections of identity, culture, heritage, and creative expression.

This conversation is part of a growing desire at Kalukanda House to amplify the voices of diaspora women, often underrepresented in both mainstream media and cultural narratives. Through Zaynab’s journey, we gain insight into the emotional and intellectual complexity of belonging to more than one place—and creating from that space of in-between.

Who Is Zaynab Zubair?

Zaynab Zubair is a British Sri Lankan writer, creative producer, and cultural curator. Her work centers on diaspora storytelling, memory, and how women reclaim personal and collective identity through art. With a background in theatre, poetry, and cultural programming, Zaynab is a powerful voice shaping how the diaspora is seen and heard.

Her upcoming book, Finding Serendipity, weaves reflections on home, womanhood, and the quiet, serendipitous moments that define us.

Identity, Duality, and Diaspora

In the podcast, Zaynab opens up about growing up between two cultures—British and Sri Lankan—and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) pressures of assimilation. She talks about:

Feeling "not Sri Lankan enough" or "not British enough"
The erasure of nuanced cultural narratives in diaspora communities
The emotional labor of preserving heritage as a woman in the diaspora

“As diaspora women, we carry the stories of our mothers, grandmothers, and generations before us—but also have to forge new ones on our own terms.” — Zaynab Zubair

The Creative Response: Telling Our Stories

Zaynab and Dee dive into how art and creativity become tools of resistance and reclamation. Writing, for Zaynab, is both a personal practice and a political act—a way of making visible what has long been invisible.

They discuss how diaspora women often use storytelling to challenge mainstream narratives, reclaim space, and reframe their histories. Whether through poetry, theatre, or visual art, these stories become acts of cultural survival and transformation.

Women Reclaiming the Narrative with Kalukanda House

This episode celebrates not just Zaynab’s work, but the broader wave of Sri Lankan and South Asian women in the diaspora who are creating new, more inclusive narratives. These are women who are:

Curating community spaces
Leading cultural conversations
Centering feminist and postcolonial perspectives
Challenging reductive views of Sri Lanka and South Asia

It’s about making sure our daughters grow up seeing themselves reflected in books, podcasts, exhibitions, and stages.

Why These Conversations Matter

As Dee Gibson says, “There’s a richness in being part of a place but seeing it from the outside.” This podcast is part of an ongoing mission to lift the veil on Sri Lanka’s hidden stories, told by those who live, love, and create from its diaspora.

In a world hungry for deeper, more authentic representation, voices like Zaynab’s are not just important—they’re essential.

Listen, Learn, and Share

🎧 Listen to the full episode Spotify here / Apple here
📚 Follow Zaynab Zubair for updates on Finding Serendipity and her upcoming work
🌏 Explore more episodes featuring Sri Lankan women reclaiming narrative through art, design, and activism

Note: For more episodes and discussions on Sri Lankan culture and identity, subscribe to the podcast and stay connected with our community.

Zaynab Zubair, a Sri Lankan-born British writer currently living in London. Zaynab was recently shortlisted for the 2024 English Writers Collective competition and has contributed to TimeOut magazine, as well as being featured on BBC Asian Radio.