Siddi lore mentions Nigerian ancestor

19-07-2011
Siddi lore mentions Nigerian ancestor
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Siddi-lore-mentions-Nigerian-ancestor/articleshow/9278391.cms

Siddis in Gujarat have folklore about Baba Ghor, the founder of a settlement in Jambur near Junagadh. As per the lore, he came from Kano in Nigeria around 1500 AD and settled there after visiting Sudan and Mecca.

Ghor began mining and trading agate stones from Khambhat. As documented by sixteenth century Portuguese traveler Duarte Barbossa, Ghor's brand of jewellery was popular in India and abroad.

Of the current 2.5 lakh Siddis in India, most of them live in Gujarat. Most of them are Muslims and worship Baba Ghor whose shrine is situated in Ratanpur near Junagadh. Siddis say that many came to India as servants, herbal medicine experts, midwives and slaves, and some of them even rose to power. The Sidi Saiyed mosque, one of the most recognizable architectural wonders of the city, is commissioned by a Siddi. Siddi Dhamaal, their traditional dance form, is gaining popularity in home turf and abroad.