ABSTRACT
The greatest obstacle to the continuation of African culture in their new homeland was the fact that their ancestors came from different parts of Africa –Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan to Mozambique, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi and Congo. Furthermore, they came from diverse ethnic, linguistic, racial and religious backgrounds. Despite these differences and the pervasive influence of the dominant local culture, the Sidis have preserved certain cultural traits and religious traditions. This chapter describes the gradual process of acculturation and the assimilative aspects of Sidi culture as well as the continuities and changes that took place in the African cultures in the adopted homeland. It provides a discussion of African religious and cultural traditions that have been preserved, notably, the reverence for ancestors, attitudes towards land, the concept of spirit possession, the adoption of Sufi beliefs and most significantly, African music, dance along with the practice of drumming and the use of certain musical instruments unique to the African continent which form the core of their cultural traditions. A discussion of linguistic survivals is also included, which reflects on collective memory.
