Kaffir culture in Sri Lanka by Kannan Arunasalam

The 'Kaffirs' of Sri Lanka started arriving from the eastern shores of Africa in the 1500s with the Portuguese, and later in more waves with the different colonizers of Sri Lanka.

'Kaffir culture' is a video portrait of one such community of Kaffirs and the struggle to keep their culture alive in the face of falling numbers.

Written and produced by Kannan Arunasalam.

Music by Ceylon Kaffir Manja, arranged by Jesse Hardman.

Special thanks to Sweta Velpillay (on sound), Nethra Samarawickrema (for help with translations), Leah Worthington (background research) and Greg Kelly (Radio Netherlands)

Note: the word 'Kaffir' has ugly racist connotations in Africa and Europe. This is NOT the case in Sri Lanka.

Original can be seen here: http://www.vimeo.com/7234191

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Sri Lanka
• Kaffir culture
• Kannan Arunasalam
• Ceylon Kaffir Manja

[BULLBULLI]

thanks for uploading this video...i am so many years waited to see that....please put more tag sri lanka adivasi puttalam kalpitiya....so peoples eassy to find out this videos.

[Mango62uk]

@BULLBULLI:

Credit for the video is with Kannan Arunasalam. I'm glad to give it more prominence, to help promote this group's existence in Sri Lanka. Could you explain the 'adivasi' and other tags? cheers!

[blue3nana]

Viva the Afro-Sri Lankan!

[Changavi]

the granny is sooo cute<3

[LankanOfficial]

WE ARE SRI LANKA



[aghahowa11]

Stupid terrorists of Lanka, genetics study and culture study all show Sinhalese, tamils and srilankan moors are very related also the fact we look very similar(note westerners think we are the same), even if we are different like srilankan kaffirs look different we should still co=exist :) :) but if u like fighting and terrorizing plz train in mma,boxing,kicking boxing and win some titles, cos srilanka lacks great global sports fighters :(

[aghahowa11]

Never heard of these people but from my fathers side my grandma looks slightly like these guys but lighter,not my granddad his dark as charcoal but looks indian, i got the dark skin but my mothers side are very light and they look more like the typical indians, amazing to know in ancient days people intermarried and didnt give a dam about so called racism ha ha ha

[pacifront83]

Beautiful, my parents are Sri Lankan, and my father looks very similar to many of the people. I could actually understand the singhalese they spoke. Amazing

[MJgitano]

kaphers!!

[lumalive]

THANKS Mr. Kannan Arunasalam for posting this video. They are not isolated in Sri Lanka. They are part of our society.

[19520221]

mr kannan thanks for this valuable video. i happend to meet these people at jaffna music festival 2011 held 25,26, 27 mar 2011.i coudn't simply belive at first glance. really shocked . i am very proud to see these african brothers and sisters living in sri lanka. long live cultural pluralism in sri lanka .

[babsyluv]

awesome! The music is very similiar to dinkimini in the maroon communities of Jamaica