THEIR dark faces are emblazoned with bold war paint as the lithe dancers move across the floor to drumbeats that resonate with African rhythms. This is Dhamal, a unique lively folk dance form of the Siddis of Gujarat.
The Siddis are an ethnic community that traces its origins to the Bantu-speaking peoples of Southeast Africa.
They were supposedly gifted as slaves by the Portuguese to the Nawab of Junagadh. The Siddis adopted the local language and customs, but they also preserved some of their African traditions, one of which is Dhamal.
Dhamal portrays the joy of hunters who are returning from a successful expedition. The dancers wear typical African tribal costumes with shell ornaments, belts and a headdress. The grassy skirt is made up of peacock feathers — a local touch. While the music is unmistakably African, the songs are sung in a mixture of Hindi and Gujarati. Originally known as Mashira Nritya, this dance features supple acrobatic moves and is performed by men only. In one stunt, they throw up a coconut in the air and crack it on the head when it falls!