Siddi

The Siddi ( other spellings: Sidi, Siddhi, Sheedi; Hindi: सिदी, feminine form Sidiyani ) are an ethnic group of black African descent in India and Pakistan. They live mainly in the Indian state of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka in addition also in Pakistan and in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh. Their population is estimated for India to 20,000 to 30,000.

Ethnicity and Culture

The origins of the word Siddi is unclear. Some researchers, as well Siddi are of the view that it was derived from the respectful salutation Western Arab Sidi. One other assumption is made to Siddi, who had converted to Islam called, Sayyadi (descendants of Muhammad ), which originated the name. The alternative name Habshi or Habashi derives from the Arabic word for " Ethiopians " (cf. Habesha ). In Pakistan, the term Makrani is common, associated with the coast of Makran. More recently the term has arisen African- Indian.

Most Siddi are descended from slaves who were brought to the Indian subcontinent since the Middle Ages by Arab traders. However, some of their ancestors might have come as free soldiers, sailors or merchants. Your flow is said to be the largest in the 17th century, sold as Arabs and Portuguese numerous slaves to India. Siddi were first described in 1850 by Richard Francis Burton. He distinguished them from the Ethiopian Habashi. As their origin he gave to a number of African tribal names, which can be located almost all like the Lamu port also mentioned in today's Tanzania, but none in Ethiopia. The Siddi were regarded as good and loyal fighters and were therefore sought after as mercenaries, but were used as house servants and farm workers. Escaped Siddi formed independent communities in forest areas. In Janjira and Jafarabad created small Siddi kingdoms.

Among the Siddis was also a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah of Gujarat, Sidi Sayed, who built a mosque named after him in Ahmedabad in the 16th century, which today due to its striking jalis ( stone window grilles ) is famous.

The Siddis are now widely adapted to the local culture. Most are Muslims, but there are Hindus and Christians among them. They speak the respective local languages. Clear indications of their African origin are preserved in dance and music, her own style of music is called Goma. In ritual dance events, the Siddis lead the nearly man-sized musical bow Malunga with it. They occur in skirts and with a feather headdress and playing alongside the music sheet snare drum dhamal, the big drum madido that the African ngoma mugarman similar drum, the coconut rattle May Mishra (the name of a female patron saint ) and the natural trumpet nafir ( Arabic term for an instrument that corresponds to the African kakaki ). The Siddis in Karnataka play the boiler drum ghumat that is otherwise used by Catholics in Goa.

In the caste system, their status is very low, their living conditions are poor. In India, therefore they are listed under the Scheduled Tribes.