0:00:00.090,0:00:03.589 ♪ (Traditional music) ♪ 0:00:06.464,0:00:15.439 (People singing) 0:00:18.921,0:00:21.851 So one of the stories BBC Pop Up[br]was asked to do, 0:00:21.851,0:00:24.436 was to tell the story[br]of Africans living in India 0:00:24.436,0:00:27.151 and some of the tough [br]experiences they have. 0:00:27.453,0:00:30.210 We thought this would be a really[br]interesting story, 0:00:30.210,0:00:33.135 and instead of just filming it,[br]we went one better 0:00:33.135,0:00:36.108 and the man who suggested it[br]is gonna help us to make it. 0:00:38.352,0:00:40.640 (Benjamin) India is very exciting. 0:00:40.640,0:00:43.919 Every day I go out,[br]I see something new. 0:00:45.198,0:00:49.528 There are lots of Africans now in India[br]doing their studies, 0:00:49.528,0:00:51.999 and they're facing a lot of racism. 0:00:53.478,0:00:58.448 Recently, there have been a lot of news[br]talking about Africans being attacked, 0:00:58.448,0:01:00.222 molested, beaten up. 0:01:00.222,0:01:03.414 So when I hear the stories,[br]it makes me feel so bad about it. 0:01:04.905,0:01:07.395 Hey, how are you doing, guys? [br]How are you? 0:01:08.032,0:01:09.312 How are you? 0:01:12.620,0:01:16.000 What are your experiences with Indians? 0:01:16.000,0:01:18.180 Indians? Actually, it's not that much. 0:01:18.180,0:01:24.280 There's not good chemistry between real [br]Africans and Indians, you know, we 0:01:24.280,0:01:26.681 We don't normally associate with Indians, you know, 0:01:26.681,0:01:30.040 because, normally, Indians, they don't trust us. 0:01:30.040,0:01:31.832 Some of them, they don't trust us. 0:01:31.832,0:01:34.414 Yeah, so it is very common in India. 0:01:34.414,0:01:38.609 Indians think that all black women[br]are prostitutes. 0:01:38.979,0:01:41.669 When they- [br]So they ask you, "How much?" like 0:01:41.669,0:01:44.079 "How much do you want me...?"[br]To stay with him. 0:01:44.591,0:01:46.441 They ask this kind of question. 0:01:46.441,0:01:50.213 We all have similar experiences, you know, as this- 0:01:50.213,0:01:53.029 because of the people, you know, [br]the local people towards us. 0:01:53.029,0:01:57.248 Not all, some are very good. Very, very, [br]very, very open-minded, you know 0:02:00.646,0:02:03.956 Benjamin, some of the stories[br]your friends told us 0:02:03.956,0:02:05.627 were quite disturbing. 0:02:05.627,0:02:09.971 And that largely happens because[br]Indians don't know their own history 0:02:09.971,0:02:14.456 that Africans played such a big role[br]in India between 14th and 17th century. 0:02:14.456,0:02:18.477 Even today, a big African community lives[br]in the state of Gujarat. 0:02:18.877,0:02:21.572 I think it would be really good for you[br]to come along and meet them. 0:02:21.572,0:02:22.545 What do you think? 0:02:22.545,0:02:23.739 Yes. It would be great. 0:02:23.739,0:02:26.265 Okay, let's go and meet them then.[br]- Yeah, let's do it. 0:02:26.265,0:02:29.957 ♪ (music) ♪ 0:02:34.409,0:02:36.789 So after a long drive[br]through the state of Gujarat 0:02:36.789,0:02:40.508 we're about to meet the Sidi community[br]near the town of Sasan. 0:02:40.508,0:02:41.946 I'm so excited, you know. 0:02:41.946,0:02:45.118 I'm really surprised to see[br]some Africans here in India. 0:02:45.118,0:02:47.673 This part of India really...[br]I really want to meet with them 0:02:47.673,0:02:49.732 and interact with them more. 0:02:50.155,0:02:53.065 - Hello, namaste.[br]- Namaste. 0:02:53.065,0:02:54.435 - How are you?[br]- Fine. 0:02:55.300,0:02:57.010 - That's great.[br]- Yeah. 0:03:00.048,0:03:03.217 (in Gujarati) We've been[br]living here for 400 years. 0:03:03.217,0:03:06.586 The local ruler [br]brought us here from Africa 0:03:06.586,0:03:09.996 and we just settled in India [br]and never went back to Africa. 0:03:11.166,0:03:12.956 ♪ (music) ♪ 0:03:23.716,0:03:27.836 (children laughing and singing) 0:03:30.156,0:03:32.146 I just feel like I'm in Africa. 0:03:32.146,0:03:35.396 They are sitting in school[br]like Africans are sitting. 0:03:35.396,0:03:39.118 Basically, as some are saying, if they go[br]beyond the vicinity of this city 0:03:39.118,0:03:41.877 and village, in other parts of India, 0:03:41.877,0:03:43.816 they are told to stop [br]and frequently asked: 0:03:43.816,0:03:46.072 "Are you from the Sidi?[br]Are you from Africa?" 0:03:46.072,0:03:49.290 Exactly the same kind of [br]questions you face in Delhi. 0:03:49.658,0:03:54.217 These kinds of things, how do you[br]solve them? We also face them, 0:03:54.217,0:03:56.339 but how do you tackle them? 0:03:56.339,0:03:57.797 (in Gujarati) 0:04:05.847,0:04:09.280 Do you ever have the feeling like[br]you want to go back to Africa? 0:04:09.280,0:04:10.500 To resettle in Africa, 0:04:10.500,0:04:14.051 or do you still want to be in India? 0:04:14.051,0:04:16.837 (speaking in Gujarati) 0:04:17.235,0:04:21.495 [V] - He's saying he's like any Indian.[br]Why would he want to leave this place? 0:04:25.044,0:04:40.474 (Speaking in Gujarati) 0:04:40.474,0:04:44.798 (Traditional music playing) 0:04:44.798,0:04:57.553 (Speaking in Gujarati) 0:04:57.553,0:05:00.712 When I came it was like[br]I was emotionally charged. 0:05:00.712,0:05:04.856 I almost wanted to cry when I saw[br]all the black Africans coming out 0:05:04.856,0:05:07.176 to greet me this afternoon. 0:05:07.176,0:05:11.022 Coming here today really has changed[br]my perception of India. 0:05:12.105,0:05:15.045 It has created a bond, it has created[br]a mindset in me now 0:05:15.045,0:05:18.002 that there are people who are ready[br]to receive Africans 0:05:18.002,0:05:20.319 whenever they see Africans in India. 0:05:22.806,0:05:26.246 Seeing this society today has given me[br]hope that in the near future 0:05:26.246,0:05:30.092 India will be a less racist society, 0:05:30.698,0:05:36.528 because this community is a symbol[br]that Africans are also Indians.