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The presence of Sidis, Indians of African descent, in India today is concentrated in the states of Gujarat and Karnataka. In this essay, we focus on the Sidis of Gujarat, and their oral narratives,...

This article offers a perspective on Siddi (Indians with African ancestry) life and community through the profile of Juje Jackie Siddi and his highly productive activities for his community. My previous studies addressed religious practices of the Siddis of Gujarat, India, and their uses in articulating a distinctive social and cultural identity. This article departs from such a focus on religion, and explores the life and work of Juje as a “barefoot entrepreneur” who uses skills and resources to create employment opportunities for his Siddi community. Juje's activities include working with local non-profit organisations and promoting athletics programmes for the benefit of Siddi youth in the village of Haliyal, located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in southwest India.

This article analyzes the contemporary experience of Sidis—Indians of African descent in India, focusing on some contemporary Sidi communities of Gujarat. With a brief history of the African presence in India, the article emphasizes contemporary dilemmas and struggles confronted by Sidis as a minority community in postindependent India.

(2004). Documentary Filmmaker Beheroze Shroff, Interviewed by Trisha Mitra. South Asian Popular Culture: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 185-193.