- Not to be confused with the Hindu term Siddhi (though sometimes spelt in the same way).
The Siddi people are Indians of mainly North-East and East African descent, whose ancestors arrived in India from the 1st to the 19th century. The Siddis came from Africa as slaves, soldiers, sailors and merchants. The earliest African presence in India was on the Konkani Coast as a result of the Arab slave trade. The 17th century saw the largest influx of Siddis, as many were sold to Hindu princes by Arab and Portuguese slave traders, and mainly used as domestic servants and farm labourers. Some Siddi slaves escaped into the forests to form their own communities. Siddis occasionally rose to prominence a few rulers of Bengal in the 15th century were Siddis, and during the British colonial period Siddis attained military and governmental leadership positions.
Rough estimates put their population at 20 to 30 thousand, mostly living in the state of Gujarat. Since they are generally dark-skinned, 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 (most Siddis are Muslim), food, and customs of India; though remnants of their African heritage are retained in their music. Siddis are employed mainly in the agricultural sector.
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