What is it like being black in India? BBC News

(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.

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.