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Max-Planck-Institut Für Ethnologische Forschung Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

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Max-Planck-Institut Für Ethnologische Forschung Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Max-Planck-Institut für ethnologische Forschung Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology International Workshop INTEGRATION AND CONFLICT AMONG THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN THE ORIENT November 8th – 9th 2007 Organiser: Ababu Minda Yimene Venue: Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/S., Germany OUTLINE The Siddi are Indians of African origin, whose ancestors arrived in India beginning in the first century A.D. as sailors, domestic servants, serviles, soldiers, free adventurers and merchants. From the 13th to the 17th century India saw a large influx of Siddis as more African personnel were needed for the armies of the rising and expanding Moslem kingdoms of India. Not seldomly did Siddis rise to prominence, attaining military and governmental leadership positions. In fact, some established their own kingdoms, whose dynasties lasted even into the British rule of India. Two cases in point are the State of Habshan in Janjira and the State of Sachin. Siddis have adopted the indigenous religions (most Siddis are Muslim), food, and customs of India, though remnants of their African heritage are retained in their music. Since the Police Action of 1949-51, the armies of India’s princely states were dissolved and power was taken over by the Indian Union Army. The soldiers, including the Siddi, were retired with pensions, a drastic change for which they were ill-prepared. Moreover, as India vigorously strived to join the ranks of industrialised nations, the urban economy was subsequently transformed and the living standard of Siddis stagnated for lack of modern education and marketable skills. The identity of the Siddis has been changing since their arrival in India and especially so since India’s independence which led to the dissolution of the princely states. Global and national realities work against their traditions, causing their identity to change at an unprecedented rate. As a result, especially in the urban settings, young Siddi are drifting away from their ancestral traditions and are identifying with other Indian communities. There are strong indications that many Siddis will, in the foreseeable future, assimilate into other Indian communities through intermarriage and cultural integration. A comparison with other African communities in other Asian countries, particularly in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and the Arab world will reveal whether the historical background and actual experience is similar to that of the Siddis of India. MPI for Social Anthropology January 2007 The workshop intends to examine the history of African forced and free immigration to the Orient, their subsequent settlement in Asia and their identity change since then. It attempts to do this by addressing the three-fold question: • Who are these Afro-Asians? • Where do they historically and actually belong within the host societies? • How do they relate among themselves and with their neighbouring communities? Each of these questions will be explored with respect to how its answers help to define the contours of their identification. Similarly, we shall see to what extent their communal identity is voluntary and how its members determine the criteria on the basis of which they include or exclude fellow members. The workshop will also look at whether, and to what extent, they incorporate Africa into their political thinking. What segments of their community, if any, take Africa as the basis of their identification? This helps us to understand to what extent, if they do at all, Oriental Africans identify with the global African Diaspora. The incidence of intermarriage among several Afro-Asian communities, particularly among the young generation, has increased significantly in recent years. Intermarriage is considered to cause the individual’s continuous switching or oscillation between identities – a phenomenon termed as ampersand identity by Samuel P. Huntington in his book Who Are We? America’s Great Debate. Huntington used this term to refer to Mexican Americans who are switching between their American and Mexican identities. I extend its usage to describe Afro-Asians’ oscillation between their African and Asian identities. This workshop will help to shed light on the extent of intermarriage between Afro-Asians and other communities and, its implication on their identity and posterity. While our main focus is on the Siddi (Indians of African origin) we shall also make comparison with Afro-Asian communities of Turkey, Sir Lanka, Pakistan, the Arab world, and the Ethiopian Jews in Israel. Comparison of their historical background and actual experiences will provide a better understanding of their overall social sphere – challenges, triumphs and legacies to their host societies. Speakers will be invited by the organiser. Contact: Ababu Minda Yimene, email: [email protected] MPI for Social Anthropology January 2007 .
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