♪ (Traditional music) ♪
(People singing)
So 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.
(Benjamin) 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.
Hey, how are you doing, guys? How are you?
What are your experiences with Indians?
Indians? Actually, it's not that much.
There's not good chemistry between real Africans and Indians, you know, we
We don't normally associate with Indians, you know,
because, normally, Indians, they don't trust us.
Some of them, they don't trust us.
Yeah, so it is very common in India.
Indians think that all black women are prostitutes.
When they- So they ask you, "How much?" like
"How much do you want me...?" To stay with him.
They ask this kind of question.
We all have similar experiences, you know, as this-
because of the people, you know, the local people towards us.
Not all, some are very good. Very, very, very, very open-minded, you know
Benjamin, some of the stories your friends told us
were quite disturbing.
And that largely happens because Indians don't know their own history
that Africans played such a big role in India between 14th and 17th century.
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 do it.
♪ (music) ♪
So after a long drive through the state of Gujarat
we're about to meet the Sidi community near the town of Sasan.
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.
(in Gujarati) We've been living here for 400 years.
The local ruler brought us here from Africa
and we just settled in India and never went back to Africa.
♪ (music) ♪
(children laughing and singing)
I just feel like I'm in Africa.
They are sitting in school like Africans are sitting.
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 questions you face in Delhi.
These kinds of things, how do you solve them? We also face them,
but how do you tackle them?
(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.