African Diaspora • Siddi Community

Accession No. SF-2024-01

Kawandi • Devotion • Siddi Women

Stitching Faith: The Siddi Women’s Archive

A living digital archive of Kawandi quilting and devotional practice, honoring the lineage of Siddi women in India and extending to contemporary works created with the Sankofa Stitchers Guild at Princeton.

Through fabric, ritual, and sound, these pieces reveal how African diasporic women use creative labor to remember, resist, and reimagine their worlds.

Explore Kawandi Siddi History Ritual & Devotion

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Kawandi • Devotion • Siddi Women Stitching Faith: A Living Archive of Kawandi Craft & Devotion

Women of the Siddi community in India have long stitched Kawandi quilts as acts of care, remembrance, and spiritual expression. This project centers their traditions while also tracing one of the many contemporary resonances of Kawandi practice—seen in the work of artists in the Sankofa Stitchers Guild at Princeton—revealing how cloth becomes a vessel for memory, migration, and creative survival.

Through fabric, ritual, and sound, these works illuminate how African diasporic women use everyday materials to remember, resist, and reimagine their worlds.

Kawandi quiltmaking in northern Karnataka, India.
Photograph courtesy of the Siddi Women’s Cooperative.

African Diaspora • Siddi Community

African Diaspora: The Siddi People

The Siddi people are a centuries-old African diasporic community in India — and at the heart of their cultural life are Siddi women.

Across generations, women have been the keepers of memory: stitching stories into cloth, leading rituals, sustaining families, and preserving traditions shaped by journeys across the Indian Ocean.

One of the most powerful expressions of this heritage is Kawandi quilting — hand-stitched patchwork textiles created by Siddi women using worn saris and scraps from daily life. Built slowly from the edges inward, each Kawandi becomes a living archive of care, resilience, and creativity.

Through their artistry and devotional practices, Siddi women carry forward African lineages while grounding their identities in the landscapes of India.

This site honors their work — exploring Kawandi quilts, women-led rituals, and contemporary interpretations that continue their legacy.

History

Siddi woman holding a colorful Kawandi quilt — Siddi quilt maker with a Kawandi quilt, India. Photograph documenting everyday artistry and devotion.

Lineages of Cloth & Memory

Tracing the Siddi Diaspora Through Kawandi

Click along the stitched line to follow this archive’s path: from forced crossings of the Indian Ocean to Siddi women’s quilting circles and contemporary work at Princeton.

Archive image

16th–19th century • Forced Movement Ocean Crossings & Unfinished Routes Portuguese, Arab, and Indian Ocean traders transport African peoples to ports along the western coast of India. Some are enslaved as household laborers or soldiers; others become part of maroon communities. These routes form the deep, often unrecorded beginnings of Siddi life in India. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Slaves_ruvuma.jpg/330px-Slaves_ruvuma.jpg Port cities & routes

20th century • Everyday Cloth Kawandi as Living Archive In villages across Karnataka and Gujarat, Siddi women gather worn saris, children’s clothes, and scraps from daily life. Pieced edge-to-center and stitched in rhythmic rows, Kawandi quilts warm beds and bodies while quietly recording lineages of care, migration, and Black Indian life. https://jkagti.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/51c512d1f6a954c400639d7c049bf55f.jpg Kawandi quilt detail

Devotion & Ritual Quilts, Shrines, and Jikar Kawandi travel to shrines and homes as part of Sufi devotional practice. Women prepare food, sing jikar (devotional songs), and gather around cloth. Quilts become devotional surfaces: both blankets and altars, holding the traces of song, touch, and prayer. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRbPUnuqEdlYn7KCjPE6Lddd0OohNkRbadvbQ&s Devotional gathering

Present • Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Guild At Princeton, the Sankofa Stitchers Guild engages Kawandi techniques to honor Siddi makers and explore Black diaspora futures. Their quilts enter this digital archive as a conversation with Siddi women’s work rather than a replacement: a way of looking back while stitching forward. 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 Sankofa quilt

Archive Entry Points

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Enter the archive through textiles, timelines, or ritual practice. Each path opens a different way of encountering Siddi history and contemporary Black feminist making.

Kawandi Quilts

Patchwork as Prayer

Hand-stitched quilts built from worn saris, household scraps, and devotional labor. Follow the edges inward as women stitch memory into cloth.

Open the textile archive

Siddi Diaspora

Oceanic Histories

African-descended communities in India shaped by enslavement, migration, and settlement along the western coast — and by women’s everyday work.

Read the historical record

Devotion & Ritual

Feasts, Songs, Saints

Sufi devotional music, shared meals, and offerings that transform kitchens and courtyards into sacred archives of care and remembrance.

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Featured Object

Kawandi Quilt, Sankofa Stitchers Guild

Date: 2024 Medium: Cotton, repurposed textiles
Location: Princeton, New Jersey

This quilt was created by members of the Sankofa Stitchers Guild in response to research on Siddi Kawandi traditions in India. Each scrap of cloth references both Black diasporic histories and the everyday fabrics of campus life, bringing geographies of India and New Jersey into a single textile surface.

Provenance: Commissioned for ___.
Curatorial note: This work asks what it means to “remember together” across oceans, languages, and generations of Black women’s making.

Kawandi-inspired quilt composed of colorful patchwork textiles. — Kawandi-inspired quilt assembled from repurposed fabrics, echoing Siddi edge-to-center construction techniques.

Cat. No. SF-Q-01

Ghat bharungi aj, Geli Ma, ghat bharungi aj.

I will fill the pot today, Geli Ma, I will fill the pot today.

— From a Sidi Sufi devotional song (Jikar), Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Kawandi

Kawandi quilts are hand-stitched textiles created by Siddi women in India—patchwork pieces built from recycled cloth, layered memories, and rhythmic lines of thread.

Made from the outer edges inward, each Kawandi grows slowly through touch and repetition. Scraps of old saris and everyday fabrics are transformed into vibrant surfaces that hold stories of ancestry, labor, creativity, and care.

More than quilts, Kawandi are living archives of diasporic history—blending African textile lineages with Indian environments, and preserving identity through the hands of women.

This site explores these traditions, their devotional resonances, and contemporary quilts inspired by them.

Shrine or dargah where women gather for devotional practices.

Devotion & Ritual

In Gujarat, women gather to prepare khicari for the female saint Mai Misra, invoking her blessings through song and shared food. These devotional practices reflect a sacred continuity—ritual as both prayer and archive.

A stitched entry into memory

Stitching Faith: The Siddi Women’s Archive