The Queens and Dynasties of African Royalty in India - Snigdha Alavilli

The Queens and Dynasties of African Royalty in India

Snigdha Alavilli

If you have been following this blog, you probably are well aware about how Africans came to India and how they went from being bought as slaves, to being employed in military forces and security organisations for the country. Here's more on that if you need it. In the 15th and 16th centuries, these Africans held positions of power in Sultanates of Bengal, Gujarat, and the Deccan. This blog post will dive into Africans in Indian royalty, particularly the African queens and dynasties.

 

There aren’t many records of African women in Indian royalty, especially in comparison to male African rulers such as Malik Ambar and Barbak Shahzada. Though these women were overshadowed by their male counterparts, similar to women all over the world, their contributions are just as, if not more significant. These women were forced to work behind the scenes in royal courts, as advisors and regents, where they held notable political power. A few of these women even became queens in India. Examples of these queens include: the Ethiopian wife of the Nawab of Bengal (1838-1880) - Mehr Lekha Begum Sahiba, a former slave, Yasmin Mahal, and Bamba Muller.

As I mentioned before, the role of women has been historically and systematically ignored in diasporic culture. They have been portrayed somewhat as a supporting character to males, like their mothers and wives. Records from the 19th and 20th century about the indentured labourers from Africa present women as destroyers of families and victims of disease. Even now, there is barely any academic research or formal papers focussed on the empowerment of Siddi women.

Unfortunately due to the extreme levels of sexism and misogyny that existed in the time of the Siddis, we will never know the lengths of the contributions of Siddi women in African royalty. Women are often overlooked and treated as less important, so the fact that some of these women were able to rise to power as queens speaks a lot about their resilience. We will never truly understand the struggles they went through, and can only thank them for their courage and bravery, which no doubt inspires young women today.

Beyond contributions of African women in India, African dynasties also left significant imprints in the places that they ruled over. For example, the royal family of Janjira were Siddis. They initially held the title of ‘Wazir’, but this title was replaced by ‘Nawab’ when recognised by the British Raj officially. The Janjira fort was built by Malik Ambar, and truly is an architectural marvel. It has been standing strong since the time it was built in the end of the 17th century, until now. The fort stands 40 feet tall with high walls around its periphery, enduring the fierce lashes of sea waves.

The Siddis actually took over this region through deceit. They poisoned the feast of the Koli chief Ram Patil, and captured the island where the fort stands. In the following century, the rulers of Janjira put themselves under the overlordship of the Sultanate of Bijapur. The main rival of these Siddis was a Maratha Koli family, namely the Angrias, with sea forts and ships based in Southern Konkan. Peshwa Bajirao of the Maratha Empire aimed to capture the Janjira region. They were successful, however they did not capture Janjira fort, but almost all the surrounding areas. A treaty with the Marathas pretty much gave them control over all the Siddis lands.

Janjira was indeed a small kingdom, but it held significant power due to its optimum placement in the coastal region. The Siddis fostered a rare blend of African, Indian and Islamic culture that still prevails in the region today. A major impact of African dynasties is their ability to maintain their distinct identity while being minorities in a large Indian society. The African community in India continues to celebrate its heritage through festivals, music, and dance. The Siddis also introduced aspects of their culture into Indian societies. A prevalent example of this is the Goma Dance which is a blend of African rhythms with Indian music forms. Here is a link to a short video of an exhilarating performance of this dance form:

Sidi goma African-Indian from Gujarat with an exhilarating dance

The political power of the Siddis has no doubt faded long ago, but their descendants continue to preserve its unique cultural heritage through religious practices and traditions. Though they have been well integrated into Indian society, they are still in touch with their African roots. There is not an abundance of research done on African royalty in India, but efforts are now being made to record their story. Here are a couple of short documentaries I would suggest if you are looking to learn more about the history and modern lives of the Siddis:

The Siddis: India's Forgotten Africans

Inside a Lost African Tribe Still Living in India Today | Short Film Showcase

 I definitely recommend watching these informative, visually appealing videos of the Siddis in India.

The Siddis in India are like a faint whisper in a storm. Not many of us know about their history as rulers, and most of us would be surprised that they still live in India. However, their legacy is as important as all of ours and we must bring them more awareness. They live as marginalised societies in India today. There is no form of caste hierarchy that exists within the Siddis, but they are treated by others the same as Dalits. For example, when Siddis go to functions such as marriages and other ceremonies, they are served food separately and are forced to clean the floors after they eat.

I urge you to learn more about the Siddis - their voice must be heard. They are one of the many unheard marginalised voices in India and the first step to let them be heard is to bring awareness. They have been living within the shadows in destitute conditions for too long, and we must all try to do whatever little we can to help them.

Works Cited:

KhABAR: Africans in India: From Slaves to Sultans. (n.d.). https://www.khabar.com/magazine/cover-story/africans-in-india-from-slaves-to-sultans#:~:text=African%20queens&text=A%20few%20African%20women%20even,Bengal%20from%201838%20to%201880.

Dey, Sayan; Maity, Tias; and Srivastava, Tanmay (2024) "Gender Empowerment in Transoceanic Feminine Folklore and Shrines: A Kin Study of Siddi Women’s Participation in Mai Misra Worship in Gujarat, India," Journal of International Women's Studies: Vol. 26: Iss. 1, Article 4.

Dokras, U., & Dokras, S. (n.d.). Janjira Fort-Siddhi Architecture of India. In Janjira - The Undefeated Fort. https://f-origin.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/9233/files/2021/02/JanjiraFort-.pdf

Minority Rights Group. (2024, April 12). Siddi in India - minority rights group. https://minorityrights.org/communities/siddi/#:~:text=India's%20Siddi%20are%20a%20large,other%20parts%20of%20the%20country