Afro-Iranians: The Forgotten Community of Iran

Illustration Source: https://collectiveforblackiranians.org

Layout: Elle Brixy and Joshua Ledford

How they got there:

Although a few Africans found their way to Iran through European colonization beginning in the 17th century, the first significant groups of Afro Iranians arrived on the southern coast of Iran along the Persian Gulf in the early 19th century. After signing a treaty with Russia, the supply of Eastern European slaves to Iran was no longer viable, and the focus was turned to the Africans from the Indian Ocean slave trade. Many Africans also arrived in Southeastern Iran as sailors and pearl divers. The origins of many Afro Iranians are preserved in their last names, often directly referring to the country or culture of origin. For example, the name Zanzibari indicates origins in Zanzibar, and Habashi refers to Ethiopia. The Africans who did not arrive as slaves will have names such as durzadeh, meaning pearl diver in Persian. By 1929, the Iranian Slavery Abolition act of 1929 was passed, freeing slaves of all backgrounds in Iran, and was strictly enforced. There was also significant cultural exchange between East Africa and Iran beginning in the 10th century and increasing by the 13th century, with a group of Iranians from Shiraz even moving to and settling in Zanzibar. They adopted the last name “Shirazi” or “Sirafi” and played a part in maintaining close ties between Iran and Africa in the centuries to come.

Who they are:

Afro Iranians today are integrated into southern Iran and its culture. Southern culture, called Bandari (Bandar or Bandargah meaning port), is a mixture of Native Iranian, African, and Arab elements. Within Iran itself, they are little known by those in the northern provinces due to lack of exposure. In the south, they refer to themselves as Iranian, and Afro Iranian would be considered an offensive term, implying they are less Iranian due to their African ancestry. There is also a subgroup of Afro Iranians who are specifically known as Afro Baloch. Balochis are an Iranian ethnicity with significant populations in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Afro Baloch people are well integrated into Balochi culture and speak Balochi, a Northwestern Iranian language.

Problems they face:

The problems of racism and the colorism present in Iran often intersect when it comes to Afro Iranians. Eurocentric beauty standards have not spared Iran, with a majority of the population getting nose jobs and using various skin whitening methods. This manifests itself in the misconception that Afro Iranians are just very dark Iranians, as there are ethnic Iranians that can be very dark-skinned. The initial reaction of many non-southern Iranians is to attribute the darker skin of Afro Iranians to the intense sun of the Persian Gulf provinces, with temperatures regularly above 45℃ in some parts during the summer months. This is due to the unfamiliarity of many northern Iranians with the presence and impact of Afro Iranians. In the south, there is also the lingering stigma of Slavery, with many being called Ghulam (slave) or Nokar (servant). In Balochistan, many are simply called “black” rather than “Baloch”. Those who arrived as merchants and pearl divers rather than slaves also differentiate themselves using their last names and will not allow intermarriage with those of “Nokar” or “Ghulam” status. In general, they are a marginalized group and live in poor conditions. These are lingering problems, although they are quickly gaining recognition with the advent of technology, allowing more Iranians to become aware of the presence of Afro Iranians. The recent BLM movement has also brought a lot of attention to the matter, spurring protests in Iran. 

Impact on culture:

Many of their native beliefs have been incorporated into Bandari and Balochi culture, which created various hybrid Afro Iranian and Afro Balochi dances and songs. Some words for spirits in these parts of Iran also have African origins, such as Pepe from Swahili Pepo, Matureh from Swahili Matari, and even Chinyase from Southern Malawi Cinyase, which is spoken further inland in Africa. The biggest impact, however, is on Bandari music, which is known throughout Iran for its trance-inducing rhythms and the unique dancing that goes along with it. It uses many different types of drums, including native Iranian drums such as the tombak and daf, Arab percussion such as the darbuka, and African inspired drums such as the djembe. All of this results in a form of music that is very popular at Iranian weddings and is often accompanied in the south by dancing and ululation (trilling of the tongue). 

BLM in Iran:

The unjust death of George Floyd spurred a series of protests among Iranians, both within Iran and abroad. Within Iran, many university students came out in support of the movement. There was also a candlelight vigil held in his honor, and the movement was publicly supported by government officials. This sparked controversy as many pointed out that the government arrested those who lit up candles for those killed in the Ukrainian plane crash. Although possibly a performative action by the Iranian regime, who would not turn down the opportunity to call out the shortcomings of US leadership, it was a genuine movement among the Iranian people. The movement was mirrored by the Iranian diaspora, particularly in America and Canada, where Iranians came out in support of the greater movement taking place in both countries. It has also opened discussions about colorism and racism in the Iranian community, and many afro Iranian individuals have come forward to share their stories on social media.