That’s not a misprint. There are indeed African tribes in India. [BBC 1] [BBC 2]
Long before the first slave ships started supplying labour to the cotton plantations of the American south, and many centuries before the first Africans were brought ashore to the sugar estates of Brazil and the Caribbean, Africans were being sold as slave-soldiers for India’s princely states.
 img: via BBC
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People in the western states of India like Gujarat and Karnataka are probably familiar with the Siddi tribes in remote areas of those states. Students of Indian history particularly that of the Maratha empire are well acquainted with the Siddis of Janjira.
There are various theories about how the The Siddis of Gujarat made their way to the Indian sub-continent, both voluntarily ….
Many others travelled as mercenaries, merchants and sailors. Sea trade between east and southern Africa, and Gujarat in India was established more than 2,000 years ago. Some historians think millions of Africans crossed the ocean.
and forcibly, as slaves by the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Although they came at first as slaves, they were so successful as fighters that they at times usurped power from the rulers they were supposed to be serving.
The Siddis served as soldiers to the various kings and Nizams of the Deccan.
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The more renowned warriors were Malik Ambar, who supposedly founded the city of Aurangabad…[Brittanica] ….
it (Aurangabad) was founded by Malik Ambar in 1610. Its name was changed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who built the Bibika Makbara tomb, an imitation of the Taj Mahal, near the city. Aurangabad remained the headquarters of the independent nizams, but it declined when the capital was moved to Hyderabad.
and Siddi Johar, who is often referenced in Indian history books during the period of Maratha king, Shivaji. [HisStoryTelling blog]
The migration to Gujarat is supposed to have occurred between 12th to 19th centuries CE. To this day, the Siddis of Gujarat live in the village of Jambur, deep in the Gir forest.
It is miserably poor. The headman explains that yes, everyone in Jambur is a Sidi. Their forbears came from Africa. But they have lost any knowledge of African languages, and don’t know where exactly their ancestors came from or why they settled in India.
However, besides their music and dance, these ethnic Africans have little in terms of connection to their culture.
One of the strongest remaining links they have to their roots is the damaal or drum. Otherwise Sidi culture is not significantly different to that of other poor, rural Indians. “The damaal comes from Africa,” explains Yunus, a blind man who is the chief drummer of Jambur. “The skill of playing has been passed down from father to son. It is a gift from God,” he says.
The Siddis of Karnataka were most likely most likely brought to Goa as slaves by the Portuguese. After being subject to various atrocities, they are thought to have escaped into the remote jungles of Karnataka, where they live to this day.
Unfortunately, the history of these immigrants from Africa has not as well documented as compared to their brethren in the West, including in history textbooks in India, and has been tinged with sadness, misery and lack of progress and prosperity. The government of India currently recognizes the Siddis as Scheduled Tribes making them eligible for various affirmative action government programs.
Author’s note: Largely due to lack of online resources, I’ve taken the liberty of widely quoting Wikipedia. If any of our readers have more information on these unique immigrants to India, please feel free to share them with all of us.
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