African migration to India and the current situation of India's Africans

A presentation on the diverse circumstances of African migration to India and the current situation of India's Africans in various States by Dr Shihan de Silva (Senior Fellow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies).

This will be followed by the screening of two documentary films by Beheroze Shroff (University of California, Irvine, USA) which  give insights into the roots of the Sidis (Afro-Indians) and their sense of belonging (see attached flyer).
                              

"We're Indian and African": Voices of the Sidis   (22 minutes)

This film explores the lives of the Sidis in Gujarat. Sidi men and women speak about the challenges they face as caretakers of the shrine of their ancestral saint Bava Gor. The Sidis also discuss their sacred Goma-Dhammal dance performed for devotees and spectators. The film also gives a glimpse into the spiritual legacy of the Sidis through the Parsi devotees of Bava Gor in Bombay.


Voices of the Sidis: Ancestral Links (26 minutes)

In this engaging portrait of an urban Sidi family in Bombay (Maharashtra), Babubhai traces his ancestry to Zanzibar. He also reminisces about his work as a stuntman in Bollywood films. Babubhai's wife, Fatimaben, narrates about her grandmother's work in a Hindu royal court. Their daughter, Heena, speaks about issues of identity in contemporary India.

 

Tuesday 9th March 2010                Tuesday 16th March 2010

at 6.15 pm (Room G34, Senate House)   at 6.15 pm (Room G32, Senate House)

Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU         Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

          

The two films will be screened on both days followed by a Discussion led by

Dr  Shihan de Silva and Dr Howard Jones (Senior Fellow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies).

                      

            Entrance Free.  Places allocated on a first come first seated basis.

 

shihan.desilva  [replace par at]  sas.ac.uk
stating on which date you wish to attend.