00:00Whenever we talk about the African diaspora, that is, the migration of African people or their settlement around the world
00:06So what's the first thing that comes to mind? Probably America, right? But wait, did you know that
00:12There is also a community here that dates back more than 500 years.
00:17And the interesting thing is that these people are settled not anywhere else but right here in Pakistan and India.
00:24So here a big question arises, what about the world's most overlooked African community?
00:30Where is he and what is his story? This is a hidden memory that's truly important to know.
00:36Let's quickly review which ones we'll be discussing today. First, the Forgotten African Diaspora, and second, their sea.
00:44The journey across, third, Genetics and Assimilation, fourth, the well-being of their ancestors, and finally their present struggle.
00:53and wonderful achievements
00:54Part 1: The Forgotten African Diaspora, a forgotten 500-year-old community: who are these people and where?
01:03Come from?
01:04Actually, Sheedi or Siddi is the name given to those people who belong to the Bantu tribe of South-East Africa.
01:11and is now part of South Asia
01:13Now two things are famous in reference to his name.
01:16Some believe that it is derived from the Arabic word Sahibi, which means respect and honour.
01:22While another view is that the Arab captains who brought them were called Sayyids, which meant rulers of the time.
01:29became a siddhi along with
01:30Nowadays they are mostly inhabited in Sindh, Balochistan and in India in Gujarat and Karnataka.
01:36Now let's look at these numbers. The most interesting thing here is their population ratio.
01:42In Pakistan's provinces, Sindh and Balochistan, their numbers can range from two to ten.
01:48In contrast, their numbers in the princely states of India are very small, just a few thousand.
01:53But despite their dwindling numbers, they have maintained their distinct identity very gracefully till date.
02:00is putting
02:00The second part, the journey across the sea, slaves, merchants and soldiers
02:06How did these people reach the shores of South Asia?
02:10The links of their history are truly Hiran Kun
02:13Their first arrival at Bharuch port was in 628 AD.
02:16After that, in 712 AD, many Sheedi people joined the Arab armies as soldiers.
02:22But after that a very bitter period started in the 18th and 19th centuries.
02:27The purchase of slaves by Ottoman Arab traders had reached its peak.
02:32And this trend continued until slavery was finally abolished in Sindh in 1843.
02:38This long and painful journey was no ordinary one.
02:42Think about it, earlier it was caught from East Africa i.e. today's Kenya and Tanzania.
02:47They were then sent to the markets of Zanzibar, from where they were loaded onto ships and brought to Muscat.
02:52And finally they were landed on the shores of Karachi and Makran.
02:56What happened was that when the local rulers gave their lands to the Jagirdars, the people working in the fields
03:02The demand for it suddenly increased, which further fueled all this.
03:06But while this was the father of history, there were also some characters who will remain immortal forever.
03:13Went
03:13Listen, you can take my head but you cannot take my Sindh.
03:19What powerful words, aren't they? These were from Hoshu Sheedi. Those who were brought, they went as slaves.
03:25But due to his ability he became the commander of the army of Sindh.
03:29In 1843, he sacrificed his life fighting against the British.
03:33And became a great symbol of struggle for the generations to come.
03:37The third part is Genetics and Assimilation, i.e., the fusion of two different worlds.
03:43Now we will see how they adapted themselves to the local population.
03:48Now if we look at their genetics, the numbers are quite reasonable.
03:52Despite living here for centuries, even today 65 percent of their heritage remains
03:57Directly traceable to African Bantu ancestry
04:00Whereas 35 percent is synchronization
04:02This fact in itself is a strong proof of how he has managed to survive even after such a long time.
04:08Practically preserved its original genetics
04:11In fact, science also gives further details in this regard.
04:14Their maternal lineage, i.e. the lineage from their mother's side, is practically 100% Bantu even today.
04:21Whereas his grandfather's lineage shows more influence of local Saudi and Middle Eastern people.
04:27To put it simply, over the past 200 years, the system has largely sided with one another.
04:33That is, through marriages between local men and married women.
04:37It is surprising to see their way of living life.
04:40This is a perfect combination of two different cultures.
04:44On the one hand, they have become completely local.
04:47like wearing a shalwar kameez or a sari
04:49Speaking fluent Sindhi, Gujarati or Balochi
04:52and adherence to local religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Christianity
04:56But on the other hand, deep inside, their African spirit remains as alive as ever.
05:00He is known for his Goma and Dhamaal dance, Magarmach Dhol
05:04and even in our everyday speech
05:06Many words of the Swahili language have been preserved to this day.
05:10Part Four, Rhythms of the Ancestors
05:13abo ajdat ki dharkan
05:15How did they preserve this cultural beat?
05:18Let's see
05:19Take for example the famous Mango Pir Festival in Karachi.
05:23A strange and captivating sight is seen here.
05:26Along with paying obeisance at the shrine of Sufi elder Pir Mango
05:30The crocodiles in the pond are fed meat
05:32Here is their local belief:
05:34that if the crocodile eats this meat
05:37Then the whole year will be full of happiness and prosperity.
05:39Now, this is what the experts say about it.
05:41that this respect for crocodiles
05:43Actually it is a part of their old African traditions.
05:46Which over time got absorbed into Sufiism.
05:49And then comes Goma and Dhamaal
05:51In Swahili, the drum is called goma.
05:53And these same words turned into the local Goma dance.
05:57When the crocodile drum beats hard
05:59So, barefoot dancing is done in such a spiritual state
06:03which is difficult to express in words
06:05These people do not consider this dance as just a pastime.
06:07For them, this is the medium through which they connect daily with the spirits of their ancestors.
06:13last part
06:15Modern Struggles and Triumphs
06:17What is the situation today?
06:19The journey from stubbornness to success
06:22If we talk about today's times, the reality is quite harsh.
06:26We cannot ignore their issues.
06:29This community is in poverty despite having a very high power.
06:31Are victims of problems like social marginalization and racial discrimination
06:36Even today in some areas of Makran
06:38Bonded Labor or forced labor is repaid
06:42And if we look at the Lyari area of ​​Karachi
06:44So the gang violence and the violent atmosphere there also
06:47They have been badly poisoned
06:49All this is a very real and difficult part of their lives.
06:53But the most important point is this
06:55that despite all these difficulties and challenges
06:57The achievements of this community will surprise you.
07:01Just look at the great military leader of the seventeenth century, Malik Ambar.
07:04Or Tanzeela Kamrani, who became Pakistan's first Sheedy Khatoon lawyer in 2018.
07:11And how can we forget sports?
07:12Abdul Ghafur, who created such a sensation in the football field that he earned the title of Pakistan's first
07:18And in the world of music, Bilawal Belgium, who is an internationally famous banjo master.
07:23All of these have proven time and again that no matter what the situation, there is always a way forward.
07:28Is
07:29So finally, after this review, there is a question that we all must think about.
07:33This great steadfastness and compromise of the Sheedi and Siddi communities
07:53You might find our conversation interesting.
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