(Traditional music playing)
(people singing)
One of the stories BBC Pop Up was asked to do
was to tell the story of Africans living in India
and some of the tough experiences they have.
We thought this would be a really interesting story,
and instead of just filming it, we went one better
and the man who suggested it is gonna help us to make it.
(music playing)
India is very exciting.
Every day I go out, I see something new.
There are lots of Africans now in India doing their studies,
and they're facing a lot of racism.
Recently, there have been a lot of news talking about Africans being attacked,
molested, beaten up.
So when I hear the stories, it makes me feel so bad about it.
- How are you doing, guys? How are you?
- What are your experiences with Indians?
[S] - Indians? Actually, it's not that much.
There's not good chemistry between Africans and Indians.
We don't normally associate with Indians
because, normally, Indians don't trust us.
Some of them don't trust us.
- Yeah, so it is very common in India.
Indians think that all black women are prostitutes.
So they ask you "how much? how much do you want me to stay with him?"
They ask this kind of question.
- We all have similar experiences because of the people,
the local people don't trust us.
Not all, some are very good. Very, very, very, very open-minded.
- Benjamin, some of the stories your friends told us
were quite disturbing.
That largely happens because Indians don't know their own history
that Africans played such a big role in India between 14th and 17th centuries.
Even today, a big African community lives in the state of Gujarat.
I think it would be really good for you to come along and meet them.
What do you think?
- Yes. It would be great.
- Okay, let's go and meet them then. - Yeah, let's go.
(music playing)
So after a long drive through the state of Gujarat
we're about to meet the Sidi community near the town of Sasan Gir.
- I'm so excited, you know.
I'm really surprised to see some Africans here in India.
This part of India really... I really want to meet with them
and interact with them more.
- Hello, namaste. - Namaste.
- How are you? - Fine.
- That's great. - Yeah.
(speaking in Gujarati)
(music playing)
(children laughing and singing)
I just feel like I'm in Africa.
They are sitting in school like Africans sit.
Basically, as some are saying, if they go beyond the vicinity of this city
and village, in other parts of India, they are told to stop
and frequently asked: "are you from the Sidi? are you from Africa?
exactly the same kind of question you face in there.
[B] - These kinds of things, how do you solve them? We also face them,
but how do you tackle them?
(speaking in Gujarati)
- Do you ever have the feeling like you want to go back to Africa?
To resettle in Africa,
or do you still want to be in India?
(speaking in Gujarati)
[V] - He's saying he's like any Indian. Why would he want to leave this place?
(speaking in Gujarati)
(traditional music playing)
(speaking in Gujarati)
When I came it was like I was emotionally charged.
I almost wanted to cry when I saw all the black Africans coming out
to greet me this afternoon.
Coming here today really has changed my perception of India.
It has created a bond, it has created a mindset in me now
that there are people who are ready to receive Africans
whenever they see Africans in India.
Seeing this society today has given me hope that in the near future
India will be a less racist society,
because this community is a symbol that Africans are also Indians.