The Siddi Community

A Pictorial Essay  on an African Indian Community
 in the Southwestern India
Last Updated on: November 16, 2024

During colonial years, Europeans brought with them several people of African origin  to India as labor. Most of them set themselves free thanks to complicated mosaic of kingdom boundaries and a dense forest cover and have come to be known as Siddis. Siddis are completely Indianized - they speak local languages, practice local religions including Hinduism, Islam and Roman Catholic.

Some Indians of African origin, settled in India since the medieval times are also sometimes referred to as Siddis.

Indians of African Origin

• A Siddi Girl
• A Siddi Habitat
• A Smiling Siddi Girl
• An African-Indian Youth
• Black, Indian, and Hindu!
• Hardworking Siddi Woman
• Portrait of a Family Man
• Prehistoric Connection?
• Siddi Girl in Western Indian Forest
• Siddi Girl with Ribbons
• Young Woman belonging to Siddi Community

• Smiling Farm Help - Picture of a Siddi Boy
• The African Connection - Table of Contents
• African Merchant in a Dakhani Miniature Painting