1 00:00:00,090 --> 00:00:03,589 ♪ (traditional music) ♪ 2 00:00:06,464 --> 00:00:10,231 (people singing) 3 00:00:18,921 --> 00:00:21,851 One of the stories BBC Pop Up was asked to do, 4 00:00:21,851 --> 00:00:24,436 was to tell the story of Africans living in India 5 00:00:24,436 --> 00:00:27,123 and some of the tough experiences they have. 6 00:00:27,453 --> 00:00:30,210 We thought this would be a really interesting story, 7 00:00:30,210 --> 00:00:33,135 and instead of just filming it, we went one better 8 00:00:33,135 --> 00:00:36,108 and the man who suggested it is gonna help us to make it. 9 00:00:36,238 --> 00:00:38,052 ♪ (music) ♪ 10 00:00:38,352 --> 00:00:40,640 (Benjamin) India is very exciting. 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,919 Every day I go out, I see something new. 12 00:00:45,198 --> 00:00:49,528 There are lots of Africans now in India doing their studies, 13 00:00:49,528 --> 00:00:51,999 and they're facing a lot of racism. 14 00:00:53,478 --> 00:00:58,188 Recently, there have been a lot of news talking about Africans being attacked, 15 00:00:58,188 --> 00:01:00,222 molested, beaten up. 16 00:01:00,222 --> 00:01:03,414 So when I hear the stories, it makes me feel so bad about it. 17 00:01:04,905 --> 00:01:09,165 How are you doing, guys? How are you? 18 00:01:12,620 --> 00:01:16,000 What are your experiences with Indians? 19 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,180 Indians? Actually, it's not that much. 20 00:01:18,180 --> 00:01:23,310 There's not good chemistry between Africans and Indians. 21 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,787 We don't normally associate with Indians 22 00:01:26,787 --> 00:01:30,040 because, normally, Indians don't trust us. 23 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,832 Some of them don't trust us. 24 00:01:31,832 --> 00:01:34,414 Yeah, so it is very common in India. 25 00:01:34,414 --> 00:01:38,609 Indians think that all black women are prostitutes. 26 00:01:39,259 --> 00:01:41,669 So they ask you, "How much? 27 00:01:41,669 --> 00:01:44,079 How much do you want me...?" To stay with him. 28 00:01:44,591 --> 00:01:46,441 They ask this kind of question. 29 00:01:46,441 --> 00:01:51,365 We all have similar experiences because of the people, 30 00:01:51,365 --> 00:01:53,029 the local people don't trust us. 31 00:01:53,029 --> 00:01:56,903 Not all, some are very good. Very, very, very, very open-minded. 32 00:02:00,646 --> 00:02:03,956 - Benjamin, some of the stories your friends told us 33 00:02:03,956 --> 00:02:05,627 were quite disturbing. 34 00:02:05,627 --> 00:02:09,971 That largely happens because Indians don't know their own history 35 00:02:09,971 --> 00:02:14,196 that Africans played such a big role in India between 14th and 17th centuries. 36 00:02:14,196 --> 00:02:18,347 Even today, a big African community lives in the state of Gujarat. 37 00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:21,532 I think it would be really good for you to come along and meet them. 38 00:02:21,532 --> 00:02:22,545 What do you think? 39 00:02:22,545 --> 00:02:23,739 - Yes. It would be great. 40 00:02:23,739 --> 00:02:26,265 - Okay, let's go and meet them then. - Yeah, let's go. 41 00:02:26,265 --> 00:02:34,167 (music playing) 42 00:02:34,409 --> 00:02:36,789 So after a long drive through the state of Gujarat 43 00:02:36,789 --> 00:02:40,508 we're about to meet the Sidi community near the town of Sasan Gir. 44 00:02:40,508 --> 00:02:41,946 - I'm so excited, you know. 45 00:02:41,946 --> 00:02:44,868 I'm really surprised to see some Africans here in India. 46 00:02:44,868 --> 00:02:47,673 This part of India really... I really want to meet with them 47 00:02:47,673 --> 00:02:50,155 and interact with them more. 48 00:02:50,155 --> 00:02:53,065 - Hello, namaste. - Namaste. 49 00:02:53,065 --> 00:02:55,115 - How are you? - Fine. 50 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:57,010 - That's great. - Yeah. 51 00:03:00,048 --> 00:03:10,466 (speaking in Gujarati) 52 00:03:10,466 --> 00:03:23,716 (music playing) 53 00:03:23,716 --> 00:03:29,186 (children laughing and singing) 54 00:03:30,156 --> 00:03:32,146 I just feel like I'm in Africa. 55 00:03:32,146 --> 00:03:35,556 They are sitting in school like Africans sit. 56 00:03:35,556 --> 00:03:39,118 Basically, as some are saying, if they go beyond the vicinity of this city 57 00:03:39,118 --> 00:03:42,886 and village, in other parts of India, they are told to stop 58 00:03:42,886 --> 00:03:45,982 and frequently asked: "are you from the Sidi? are you from Africa? 59 00:03:45,982 --> 00:03:49,188 exactly the same kind of question you face in there. 60 00:03:49,188 --> 00:03:54,217 [B] - These kinds of things, how do you solve them? We also face them, 61 00:03:54,217 --> 00:03:56,339 but how do you tackle them? 62 00:03:56,339 --> 00:04:05,847 (speaking in Gujarati) 63 00:04:05,847 --> 00:04:09,280 - Do you ever have the feeling like you want to go back to Africa? 64 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:10,500 To resettle in Africa, 65 00:04:10,500 --> 00:04:14,051 or do you still want to be in India? 66 00:04:14,051 --> 00:04:16,837 (speaking in Gujarati) 67 00:04:17,235 --> 00:04:21,495 [V] - He's saying he's like any Indian. Why would he want to leave this place? 68 00:04:25,044 --> 00:04:40,474 (speaking in Gujarati) 69 00:04:40,474 --> 00:04:44,798 (traditional music playing) 70 00:04:44,798 --> 00:04:57,553 (speaking in Gujarati) 71 00:04:57,553 --> 00:05:00,712 When I came it was like I was emotionally charged. 72 00:05:00,712 --> 00:05:04,856 I almost wanted to cry when I saw all the black Africans coming out 73 00:05:04,856 --> 00:05:07,176 to greet me this afternoon. 74 00:05:07,176 --> 00:05:11,022 Coming here today really has changed my perception of India. 75 00:05:12,105 --> 00:05:15,045 It has created a bond, it has created a mindset in me now 76 00:05:15,045 --> 00:05:18,002 that there are people who are ready to receive Africans 77 00:05:18,002 --> 00:05:20,319 whenever they see Africans in India. 78 00:05:22,806 --> 00:05:26,246 Seeing this society today has given me hope that in the near future 79 00:05:26,246 --> 00:05:29,655 India will be a less racist society, 80 00:05:30,698 --> 00:05:36,528 because this community is a symbol that Africans are also Indians.