A Cultural Drawbridge : A Study of the Siddi Tribe

Tribals are aboriginals, there are different tribes in India, and they live in different forests India their unique feature, is that the Siddis, a tribe of African-Indian descent, have resided in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka for four centuries. Their migration occurred during the colonial period, and they are predominantly located in the taluks of Haliyal, Yellapura, Sirsi, Mundagoda, and Karwar. Historical records suggest that they were brought to Goa as slaves. Despite this, the Siddis, who have maintained a nomadic way of life characterized by their distinct cultural practices, forest resources, and areca nut, are now endeavoring to integrate into mainstream society by establishing cultural connections. The current research aims to deal with the cultural existence of the Siddis. While their lifestyle may resemble that of a village in Africa, Uttarakannada is geographically distant from the continent. This investigation specifically concentrates on the Siddis residing in the Yellapur and Ankola taluks of Uttarakannada, with a focus on unraveling the cultural elements that define the Siddi tribe in the present day.

Keywords:
Siddi tribe, Culture, Integrate, Existence, Migration