Siddi

Introduction

Siddi a Negro population brought from Africa long ago and have settled in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state. The gazetteer of North Canara mentions that Siddi has been brought from Africa by early maritime powers. According to another version Siddi were brought to India mainly by Arabs, the pioneers in the forced migration of Negroes to India. It is said that expansion of trade by the Arabs in the 16th century A.D. to Africa and other continents was responsible for the widespread migration of African Negroes in different parts of the world including India.

Almost all the Siddi in Karnataka live in and around forests of the various talukas of uttar Kannada district the maximum number of settlements are found in Yellapur taluka of Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka state followed by Haliyal, Ankola, sirsi, mungod, kalghati, joida, and khanapur taluka in descending order. Kalghati and Khanapura talukas are situated between thick woody and undulated western Ghat region. This intervening region opens onto the plateau of the east.