Siddi

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

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

[edit] History

The Siddis (also called Habshi, from Arabic حبشي ḥabashi, Abyssinian) are a black African people in India. Siddis 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.

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 Muslim Kings 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.

[edit] Siddis of Junagadh

Presented as slaves by the Portuguese to the local Nawab of Junagadh, a local Prince, 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.

"On the way to Deva-dungar is the quaint village of Sirvan, 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"

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

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).^{[citation needed]} Most of the Habshi came from pagan areas in Western southwestern Ethiopia (see SNNPR and Benishangul-Gumuz Region 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][2] 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".^{[citation needed]}

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

They exist in Indian and mainly Pakistani society. Siddis have adopted the indigenous religions. They are mainly Muslims, as they converted to Islam as their owners were Muslims.

[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.

[edit] See also

• Afro-Asian
• List of Scheduled Tribes in India
• Murud-Janjira
• Siddhis of Karnataka
• Malunga
• Black Indians (the Americas)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Indians of African Origin
• Black, Indian, & Hindu
• Habshis and Siddis - Africans and African descendants in South Asia
• The Global African Community/Great Habshis in Ethiopian/Indian History
• History of the Ethiopian Diaspora
• Pakistan's Sidi keep heritage alive
• BBC: The lost Africans of India
• BBC In pictures: India's African communities
• http://travel.expressindia.com/story/20499.html
• http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=xtras&subsection=womensextra&xfile=January2007_extraspecial_standard805&child=extraspecial