Once ‘slaves’, Sheedis of Sindh strive to shine as scholars

Marginalized for centuries for being descendants of African slaves, Sheedis, members of an ethnic minority living in the heart of city centers, and coastal villages of Sindh, are now standing at a crossroads between a legacy soaked in history and the modern pursuit of education and growth.

Today’s Sheedis are slowly but steadily breaking through barriers, with a growing number of young minds bent upon rewriting their narrative. But amid the successes, challenges persist, as higher education remains a ‘distant dream’ in many Sheedi households.

For people like Janib Ali Sheedi, a junior elementary school teacher, education is more than a personal success. He is the first one in his village of Lalu Raunk, located in Qambar Shahdadkot district, to have earned a master’s degree. Now, he hopes to transform his community.

Sheedis are breaking through barriers, with a growing number of young minds bent upon rewriting their narrative

Speaking with Jarida Today, Janib Ali Sheedi revealed the significant educational challenges faced by his community, where few manage to pursue education beyond matriculation. “Our young people rarely continue their education after matric,” he explained.

“Most Sheedis work as daily wage laborers, employed as drivers, mechanics, and farmers. Historically marginalized, our community has faced financial struggles, which has led to a limited focus on education,” he said. When asked about the underlying reasons, he pointed to the harsh economic realities the Sheedi people endure.

“Our community lives with minimal resources and expenses. Education, business ventures, and personal growth often take a back seat as people focus on earning just enough to survive. Many go to the Middle East for labor work, so they don’t give importance to education,” he said, and mentioned that the Sheedi community in India’s Gujarat is recognized with ‘special status’.

In Pakistan, Janib Ali Sheedi said that they have been largely overlooked despite their significant contributions to the region’s history. Most of Pakistan’s Sheedi population, which he estimates to be around four to five hundred thousand, is settled in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

Many Sheedis from Makran in Balochistan are known as Makranis, while others live in Lyari in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Qasimabad, and Hyderabad. “There is even a village in Hyderabad known as Sheedi Goth, where Sheedis of pure historical lineage live,” Janib Sheedi said. Approximately, 70 percent of Pakistan’s Sheedi population resides in Sindh, while the remaining 30 percent has settled in Balochistan, he said.

“Although some families have migrated to other provinces for professional opportunities, the community remains strongly rooted in these coastal areas [of Sindh and Balochistan].” Talking about the community’s historical significance, Janib Sheedi shared the legacy of their ancestors, who served in various dynasties and played key roles during the Mughal Era.

He particularly mentioned General Hosh Muhammad Sheedi, also known as Hoshu Sheedi, who led Sindh’s Talpur Army against British forces in the 19th century, and is still remembered as a national hero. Aqsa Qambrani, another member of the community who is student in England, talked about the deep connection the community has with art and culture.

“Art is the essence of our society. Since we are marginalized, we find solace in folk music and cultural practices,” she said, and highlighted notable community figures like Mukhtiar Sheedi, a prominent Sindhi folk singer, and Akash Sarmad, a classical Sindhi singer. Janib Sheedi also said his community has produced intellectuals, such as Muhammad Siddique Musafar, a writer from the 1960s.

Art is essence of Sheedi society. Since we are marginalized, we find solace in folk music and cultural practices

Siddique Musafar’s book, Horrifying Visions of Slavery and Freedom — Long Live Freedom, explored the history of the Sheedi people’s migration and hardships they endured due to slavery. The community boasts sports figures like Qasim Umar, a former cricketer who represented Pakistan in the 1980s.

When discussing gender dynamics, Janib Sheedi shared that the ratio of men to women in their community is imbalanced, with men comprising 70 percent of the population. He believes this discrepancy is partly due to Sheedi men preferring to marry outside the community, often to escape the stigmas attached to their identity.

“Our dark skin has unfortunately made us feel inferior in our society. Some marry outside the community to distance themselves from this identity,” Janib Sheedi explained. Aqsa Qambrani expressed her pride in the growing empowerment of women in her community. “Women in our community are valued. We have little conservatism, and years of slavery and struggle have resulted in free-thinking among us. My opportunity to study abroad is a proof of this shift,” she said.

After years, she said that their community had a representation in the National Assembly, and that too by a woman named Tanzeela Kamran. “In our community, women are given equal rights as citizens. There is naturally growing support for it. But unfortunately, financial constraints are a big hurdle in our way forward,” she concluded.