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