SIDDI DANCES

SIDDI DANCES

(Dances performed by the Siddi tribe, ಸಿದ್ದಿ ಕುಣಿತ)

Siddis constitute a tribal community, which migrated to some regions of North Canara district in coastal Karnataka Africa. They have been working as labourers in the areca nut gardens of the district and they have been subjected to the forces of modernization. Now they are divided among Hinduism, Islam and Christianity depending on social pressures and personal choice. However they have retained contacts among one another. The some of the dances performed by this community have synthesized the African traits with local folk dances. Gradually the original traits are dwindling.

DamAmi kuNita and pugaDi kuNita are the dance forms specific to Siddis. But they also entertain themselves by resorting to local dance forms such as alAvi dance (among Muslim Siddis) and gumTe pAngu. (hAlakki community) This note gives a brief account of the two forms that are specific to them.

Damami kunita (DamAmi kuNita) (ಡಮಾಮಿ ಕುಣಿತ): This dance is usually performed during the Navratri. More importantly it is performed also during the festivals celebrated to honour their ancestors and elders. Damami the musical instrument that provides the background score to the dance in not used by any other Indian community, according to some scholars. However, there is a mention of this percussion instrument in the work 'Natyachudamani' by Somanarya. Somanarya is believed to have lived during the reign of King Achyutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire in 1540 A.D. Helmut K. Anheier who has done extensive research about the Siddis present in Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan does not see any African element in Damami. On the other hand, the instrument ‘mugarman’ used by the Siddis in Gujarat bears a distinct resemblance to ngoma drum used in Zimbabve even today. There is an instrument called DamAmi in Rajasthan also.

Women or men in women’s disguise perform the dance when a man plays on Damami. The dancing women carry either peacock feathers or a coconut (called mucAke) in their language. This practice of holding a coconut during a dance also harks back to ancient times. Occasionally these dancers are visited by divine powers and they are then invested with devine powers to resolve the problems faced by the community members. Siddis belonging to Islam perform alAvi dance also. Siddis of Gujarat perform another famous dance known as Dhamaal dance.

Pugadi Dance (pugaDi kuNita) (ಪುಗಡಿ ಕುಣಿತ): This is a dance form borrowed by the Siddis from the fishing communities and gauLiga (Cowherd) communities of Norh Canara. This dance is performed by even number of women who hold an earthen vessel (koDa) and blow into it while dancing. The dance is performed with a background score provided by another similar vessel (koDa) and gumaTe usually played hAlakki okkaliga community. This is mainly performed during the Ganesha festival as also on other re creative occasions.