Sasan Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
When you think of lions, you think of Africa. But in Gir, I was introduced to something else "African".
Apparently some 300 years ago, the Nawab of Junagadh imported some Africans from East Africa, Bantus I understand, into his army – presumably they were better fighters than the Kathiawars. He gave them a village to live in and, as often happens in such things, they stayed on long after their original purpose was fulfilled.
They still live as a clan today. They are clearly of the Negroid race, but have forgotten everything else African . They speak Gujarathi and not Swahili and presumably eat dhoklas and khandvis !!
The way I got to know of them was that the place I am staying at, and all others around them, get a group from this tribe to do an “African dance” post dinner around the bonfire. I was intrigued, but I could last only five minutes. Wikipedia says they have preserved their dance form - Goma - but it didn't appear so to me. There was nothing remotely African about either their music or the dance and, other than their Negroid blood, there is nothing “African” about them. It's a shame that they are being used in this way for nightly entertainment of the unknowing tourists, but then who am I to judge –if it helps them to make a living, good luck to them.
"African" ? No surely not
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Sasan Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
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Comments
2025-05-22
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Vincy Joseph
2014-02-17
Interesting .. Africans in Gujarat!!!
Just wondering if NAMO is aware of this :-) :-)
Sandhya Sriram
2014-02-17
this is quite interesting. while we know that there is huge amount of Indians in Africa, many of whom again remotely indian (except for possibly their names).
Even more so, there are many African Indians in the UK, Carried to Africa by the British and then Expelled from Uganda due to the Ethnic Cleansing in the 70s. Largely Gujrathis but now a mixed culture. There is nothing right - wrong - probably Ramesh - it is just situations and how people have lived through them i guess.
indigoite
2014-02-17
@Vincy - No idea !!!
@Sandhya - Oh yes the Indian diaspora is everywhere, but they have remained Indian - rarely completely integrated. The Siddis - that's what the Africans are called, I believe, have retained their Negroid features, but almost nothing else. They are as Indian as you and me.
sriram
2014-02-18
i am so excited that you went to their place .... cool!
a while ago, i had blogged about this group of immigrants, and now i know one who has actually spent a little bit of time with them ...
http://sriramkhe.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-siddis-are-yet-another-link-in.html
Vinod
2014-02-18
Travel experiences, the kind that I will die for ! have marked it in my bucket list. The Siddis.
indigoite
2014-02-18
@Sriram - Of course you've blogged about it. Didn't you bump into them in your travels - they are in oter parts of the country as well
@Vinod - Nice to see you getting hooked :)
Vinod
2014-02-19
I am inspired.. truly. Thank you.