Exploring Jambur, India’s mini African village

Jambur village in Gujarat is just like any other village in India. Did you know that it’s also known as an African village? Well, for centuries, this place has served as a home to Siddi communities that are people of African origin.

It is believed that they first arrived in India in the 7th century with more coming as a part of the Arab invasion. While some were sailors and merchants, others were brought to India as slaves.
These people now call India their home, with no memory of African language, So, if you visit this place, they will speak to you in clear Gujarati language. If reports are to go by, they are the direct descendants of Bantu Tribe, and most of them were brought to India as a slave by the Portuguese.

They were originally known as Abyssinian and Persian, whereas the tribes that rose in ranks, got the title of Siddi. If records are to go by, the name Siddi has been derived from the Arabic word Sayyid/Sayed, meaning master.
You can find people of this community in the village of Jambur, which is situated around 20 km from Gir and can be easily reached via car.

Interesting thing to note about this community is that they strictly marry among themselves, hence, their genes remain restricted within their community. This is the reason they have this unique African look and appearance. However, in terms of tradition, they usually follow the Gujarati traditions and have mostly forgotten their ancestral traditions.

1. Why is Gujarat famous for tourism?
   There are a variety of historic forts, palaces, mosques, temples, and places of historical importance in India's struggle for independence in Gujarat, because of which it's famous for tourism.
2. Which district have the largest forest area in Gujarat ?
   The highest number of open forests exists in the Dahod district.
3. How many national parks are there in Gujarat?
   The Gujarat state of western India has four National Parks.