From the archive record
People of Siddhi Village in Gujarat. The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi, also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000--55,000, with Gujarat in India the main population centre. The village Sirvan is inhabited entirely by Siddis, a tribe of African people. They were brought 300 years ago from Africa, by the Portuguese for the Nawab of Junagadh. Today, they follow very few of their original customs, with a few exceptions like the traditional Dhamal dance. Some of the African traditions have been preserved by the Siddhis which includes the Goma music and dance form, which is sometimes called Dhamaal. The term is believed to be derived from the Ngoma drumming and dance forms of Bant