| dc.description.abstract | This study explores a community
that is less known in Sri Lanka – Afro-Sri
Lankan community or Kaffirs, that is
considered as the smallest ethnic minority
in the country. Earlier their members were
scattered in few places in Negambo, Jaffna,
Kalpitiya and Puttalam, but one of the
remaining and known community now
lives in Sirambiadiya. It has been studied as
having a distinctive culture especially
focusing on their unique music and dance
known as ‘Maanja’. This research
investigated Sirambiadiya as a
marginalized space with reference to
Edward Soja’s notion of Third Space. Soja’s
third space insists us to look at places such
as Sirambiadiya focusing on their lived
experiences, rather than setting them as
objective/perceived (first spaces) or
subjective/conceived (second spaces)
spaces. Here, in order to understand
formulation of social identity and
challenges of this ethnic minority, a field
research with in-depth interviews and
focus group discussions were done. Results
revealed that the ethnic identity of Afro-Sri
Lankans is neglected in the category of
“other” in the official discourses and
therefore their ethnic identity is at stake.
Because of the lack of recognition, they are
marginalized as a separate space amidst
other villages. Their physical appearance
reminding the African descent helps to
formulate their identity. Yet, they now try
to formulate their social identity while
trying to exhibit their creole culture. The
study concludes that in the case of people
in Sirambiadiya, looking at it as a third
space, their identity has become a problem
in the rendering of their everyday life. | en_US |
