Siddi

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Not to be confused with the Hindu term Siddhi (though sometimes spelt in the same way). For the Italian commune, see Siddi (Sardinia)

This page is about the community of African descendants in India and Pakistan. For the Arabic honorific, see the article Sidi

The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi (Hindi: शीदि, Urdu: شیدی) people are an Indian ethnic group of mainly East African descent, whose ancestors arrived in India from the 11th to the 19th century.

1 History
2 Siddis of Junagadh
3 Origin of the terms "Siddi" and "Habshi"
4 Present Status
5 Films
6 External links

[edit] History

The Siddis (also called Habshi) are a black African people in India. While many Indians also have similarly dark skin, it is the Siddis who possess large amounts of sub-Saharan African DNA. They mostly came from eastern Africa and some were sold as slaves in the Indian subcontinent by Arab merchants in medieval times. Others also came of their own volition as soldiers or mercenaries, sailors and merchants.

In Western India (today's Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra), the Habshi gained a reputation as being physically powerful and fiercely loyal. This made them popular amongst the local princes as mercenaries. The 17th century saw the largest influx of Siddis, as many were sold to Hindu princes by Arab and Portuguese slave traders. Despite their reputation as good fighters, many were also used as domestic servants and farm labourers. Some Siddi slaves escaped into the forests to form their own communities.

In fact, small Siddi kingdoms were established in western India in Janjira and Jaffrabad as early as the twelfth century. The island of Janjira was formerly called Habshan, meaning the land of the Habshis. A few rulers of Bengal in the 15th century were of Habshi descent. The Habshis also played an important role in the history of Western India, particularly in the struggle between the Marathas and the Mughal empire; with the Habshis often aligning themselves with the Mughals. Even during the British colonial period, Siddis attained numerous military and governmental leadership positions.

[edit] Siddis of Junagadh

Presented as slaves by the Portuguese to the local Nawab of Junagadh, a Fudal lord, the Siddis also live around Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the last refuge in the world of the almost extinct Asiatic Lions, in Junagadh a district of the state of Gujarat, India.

Local Portuguese island colony in Gujarat was Diu, now a union territory of an independent India part of Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.

"On the way to Deva-dungar is the quaint village of Sisvan, inhabited entirely by Siddis, a tribe of African people. They were brought 300 years ago from Africa, by the Portuguese for the Nawab of Junagadh. Today, they are more Indian than African and follow very few of their original customs, with a few exceptions like the traditional Dhamal dance."

Source:

http://travel.expressindia.com/story/20499.html

[edit] Origin of the terms "Siddi" and "Habshi"

There are at least a couple of theories to explain the origin of the terms "Siddi" and "Habshi", which is what Siddis were/are called in parts of western India. Most experts agree that the word "Habshi" comes from the Arabic word "Habashi," from the EthioSemitic word Habesha, meaning Abyssinian (Ethiopian). Though the name is directly cognate with the name of the inhabitants of medieval Ethiopia, most of the Habshi/Siddi were originally from other areas. The term was encompassed Somali people and Sudanese peoples as well outside of the Ethiopian sphere. Most of the Habshi came from pagan and Muslim areas in southwestern Ethiopia (see SNNPR for a rough estimation) that were often raided for slaves by the (Habesha) Christian highlanders, lands often outside of the areas subject or vassal to the Ethiopian emperor.^[1] Similarly to the evolution of the term "Ethiopia," (previously used to refer to Africa south of Egypt in general or Nubia in particular), the term "Habasha" in Arabic though referring specifically to Ethiopia and Ethiopians was often applied to describe all black peoples. One theory of the origin of Siddi is that, after conversion to Islam, some Habshi called themselves Sayyadi (descendants of Muhammad), from which came "Siddi".

Some scholars (and many Siddis) claim that the word Siddi is an expression of respectful address commonly used in North Africa (see Sidi), like Sahib in India or Sir in England. Specifically, it is said to be an honorific title given to the descendants of African natives in the west of India, some of whom were distinguished military officers and administrators of the Muslim princes of the Deccan.

[edit] Present Status

Rough estimates put the current Siddi population at 20 to 30 thousand, mostly living in the state of Gujarat and a few thousands in the southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. They occupy the bottom rung of the Indian caste system, and exist mainly on the margins of Indian society. Siddis have adopted the indigenous religions (There are Hindu, Christian and Muslim Siddis), food, and customs of India; though remnants of their African heritage are retained in their music. Their "Dhamal dance" is part of the cultural heritage of Andra Pradesh. Siddis are employed mainly in the agricultural sector.

[edit] Films

2003 - From Africa...To India: Sidi Music in the Indian Ocean Diaspora. By Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy, in close collaboration with Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy and the Sidi community. DVD-R. ISBN 1880519291.