The story of Dhamaal performance traditions reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in a world shaped by human movement and history
About Dhamaal:
Dhamaal is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance
It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat.
Usually, Dhamaal songs and dances are performed to celebrate the anniversary of the birth and death of spiritual leaders.
They are performed in two ways
Dance Dhamaal: It is performed in both sitting and dance positions and the focus is more on the sounds of the instruments.
Baithaaki Dhamaal: is performed in the sitting position and the focus is more on the lyrics and less on the musical instruments.
The spiritual songs that are sung during the Dhamaals are known as zikrs.
Key facts about Siddis
The term Siddi refers to Afro-Indians— Africans who mixed with Indians through marriage and relationships.
They crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived in India during the 12th, 13th and 14th century
They were transported by Islamic invaders and Portuguese colonisers as enslaved people, palace guards, army chiefs, harem keepers, spiritual leaders, Sufi singers, dancers and treasurers.
In the present day, the majority of them are found in the west and southwest of India, in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana states.
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