Sidi artistes enthrall with their African folk dance

Ahmedabad, Jan 13 (UNI) Sidi artistes from Ratanpur village in Bharuch district enthralled visitors in the International Kite Festival, by performing the mystical folk dance of the Sidi African-Indians, being held at the police stadium here.

The Sidi group of artistes comprising Imran, Sarfaraz, Zamir, Altaf Hussein and Sabir , who had performed yesterday, has performed all over India as well as abroad, in countries like Germany, Russia, France, Australia, Zambia and Kenya.

The Sidis of Gujarat are a Sufi community of East African origin that came to India eight centuries ago and made Gujarat their home.

They carried with them an exceptionally rich musical tradition and kept it alive and flourishing through the generations, unknown to the rest of the world.

Their native African music styles, melodic and rhythmic structures, lyrics and musical instruments have mingled with local influences to form this final symbolic representation of African-Indianness.

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