Meet the Siddi community, an African tribe long marginalised in India, seeking glory in sports
By Sam Abuya
The Siddi community which has endured racism and rejection in India traces its roots back to Africa and has been abused for their distinctive dark features and curly hair. They are believed to have descended from Bantu peoples of sub-Saharan Africa and mostly live on India’s western coast and are believed to have been brought over during the Islamic conquest of the subcontinent as early as the eighth century.
Many others of the Siddi community were likely brought by the Portuguese to India between three and five centuries ago, researchers say. But they are still viewed as outsiders. When British colonial authorities abolished slavery in the 19th century, The Siddi community fled to the jungles in fear of their safety. Gradually they settled on India’s western coast, working as farmhands and labourers while adopting the local culture and languages.
India is now home to about 250,000 Siddis, according to researchers, with most living in Gujarat and Karnataka – with both coastal states facing the eastern tip of Africa from across the Arabian Sea. The Siddi community living in Gujarat are Muslim, making them targets for further discrimination in Hindu-majority India.
The Siddi community is, however, now seeking their glory through sports. The 16-year-old Rohit Majgul is part of a group of teens practising martial and hopes to represent India at the international stage. Two years ago, Majgul won silver in judo at the Asia-Pacific Youth Games and has been an influence to other young people from his marginalised community seeking to pull themselves and their families out of poverty through sports.
“No one cares about us (Siddi community). There are no facilities in our village – no piped water, no proper toilets, nothing,” said Majgul. “I was selected and sent to the state sports academy. I have no friends there but it doesn’t bother me. I just want to win an Olympic medal and let the world know I am Indian,” he added.
Source: AFP
