Still, unexpected links linger; the Sidi’s Gujarati dialect borrows a few words from Swahili, and Sidi music and spirituality has clear links with African spiritual heritage.
In a sense, the Sidi are a potent symbol of modern India, a mix of old-world colonialism and modern globalisation. Centuries have passed and Africa is a faded memory for the Sidi. For them, India is where they belong.
On Belonging: Photographs of Indians of African Descent is on display at the National Portrait Gallery, London until 31st August 2015. Find out more here.
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