BRITISH ASIAN YouTuber Humza Arshad is coming out with a funny adventure story that most children of South Asian descent would be able to relate to.
The book is titled Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties, and Arshad has teamed up with comedy writer Henry White and illustrator Aleksei Bitskoff to develop the fast-paced adventure.
The story revolves around Humza Khan, the greatest eleven-year-old rapper Eggington has ever known. Humza knows he’s destined to be rich, but his dreams are put on hold when his music teacher falls ill. His auntie steps in as a substitute and Humza isn’t impressed with her unorthodox teaching methods.
Soon, other teachers begin to disappear and Humza knows something isn’t right. With the help of his elderly Uncle and friends Umer and Wendy, Humza discovers that the suspicious Aunties might not be as friendly as they seem.
“I love my aunties, but any Asian kid will tell you, a gang of aunties is a force to be reckoned with and to make them extra powerful and extra scary was a lot of fun,” said Arshad, the first British YouTuber to have his own scripted comedy series on BBC Three in the mockumentary series Coconut.
“Exaggerating some of my childhood experiences and turning it into a kids adventure is a bit of dream.”
Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties will be out on March 7 by Puffin in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.
Creating cultural belonging
Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.
Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.
Empowerment through experience
I couldn't talk about the festivals we celebrate, the type of Indian food we have, and also the clothes we wear for special occasions," Patel told BBC."I felt that I couldn't express my individuality, which in turn affected my confidence and self-worth." She realised that lack of cultural belonging represented an untapped market.
The business model centres on experiential events that blend tradition with social connection. The first workshop held on September (20) focused on bento cake decorating, a trendy format paired with south Asian networking. Patel aims for attendees to "feel empowered and inspired."
With South Asian Heritage Month highlighting the importance of cultural spaces, The Empowered Desi positions itself at the intersection of community building and commercial viability. Patel's betting that others share her experience and are willing to pay for a sense of belonging.
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