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{{Infobox bilateral relations|Africa–India|African Union|India}}
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'''Africa–India relations''' (also referred to as '''Indo-African relations''' or '''Afro-Indian relations''') are the historical, political, economic, and cultural connections between [[India]] and the [[Africa|African continent]].

Historical relations concerned mainly India and [[East Africa]]. However, in modern days—and with the expansion of diplomatic and commercial representations— India has now developed ties with most of the African nations. Trade between India & Africa stood at US$62.66 billion (2017–18) making India the fourth largest trading partner of Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idcr.cprindia.org/blog/india-africa-brief |title=India-Africa Brief | IDCR |access-date=2015-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614115100/http://idcr.cprindia.org/blog/india-africa-brief |archive-date=2015-06-14 }}</ref>

== Historical background ==
Africa and India are connected by the [[Indian Ocean]]. The geographical proximity between the [[Horn of Africa]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]] has played an important role in the development of the relationship since ancient times.

=== Ancient trade relations ===
[[File:KingEndybisEthiopia227-235CE.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Coins of king [[Endybis]], 227–235 AD, with Greek inscriptions. The left one reads {{lang|grc|ΑΞΩΜΙΤΩ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ}}, "King of Axum", and the right one {{lang|grc|ΕΝΔΥΒΙϹ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ}}, "King Endybis".]]
Indo-African relations date back to the Bronze Age period of the [[Indus Valley civilisation|Indus Valley civilization]], [[Pearl millet]] first domesticated in Africa have been discovered from the site of [[Chanhudaro|Chanhu Daro]] and there is at least one burial of African women from the same site as well, it is thus postulated that Indus valley maritime activities included journey to the horn of Africa and bringing back African crops along with African diaspora to the Indus valley since Pearl millet was cultivated in South Asia since 2nd millennium BC but there is no such evidence from the Near East.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Possehl|first=Gregory L.|date=4 July 2012|title=Were There Commercial Communications between Prehistoric Harappans and African Populations?|journal=Scientific Research|volume=2|pages=169–180}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Scott|first1=Ashley|last2=Power|first2=Robert C.|last3=Altmann-Wendling|first3=Victoria|last4=Artzy|first4=Michal|last5=Martin|first5=Mario A. S.|last6=Eisenmann|first6=Stefanie|last7=Hagan|first7=Richard|last8=Salazar-García|first8=Domingo C.|last9=Salmon|first9=Yossi|last10=Yegorov|first10=Dmitry|last11=Milevski|first11=Ianir|date=2020-12-17|title=Exotic foods reveal contact between South Asia and the Near East during the second millennium BCE|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=118|issue=2|article-number=e2014956117|language=en|doi=10.1073/pnas.2014956117|pmid=33419922|pmc=7812755|issn=0027-8424|hdl=10550/76877|hdl-access=free|doi-access=free }}</ref> Black peppercorns were found stuffed in the nostrils of [[Ramesses II]], placed there as part of the [[Mummy|mummification]] rituals shortly after his death in 1213 BCE.<ref>{{cite book|author=Stephanie Fitzgerald|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8mGcvFkatIC&pg=PT24|title=Ramses II, Egyptian Pharaoh, Warrior, and Builder|date=8 September 2008|publisher=Compass Point Books|isbn=978-0-7565-3836-1|page=88|access-date=29 January 2008}}</ref> In the 2nd century BC the Greek's accounts of Ptolmaic Egypt and its trade relations mention Indian ships making the trip and Greeks began to utilize this knowledge from Indian sailors to conduct maritime activities in the Indian Ocean and conduct business with the Indians directly instead of relying on the middle men, when Romans replaced the Greek administration in Egypt, this began a 400-year period of [[Indo-Roman relations|trade relations]] between the Roman Empire and India.<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/csi/pub/source/alex5.htm Greatest emporium in the world] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807082704/http://www.unesco.org/csi/pub/source/alex5.htm|date=2015-08-07}}, CSI, UNESCO.</ref> ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea|Periplus Maris Erythraei]]'' (''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea''),—which dates to mid-first century—refers to trade relations between the [[Kingdom of Aksum]] and [[History of India|Ancient India]] around the first millennium. Helped by the [[monsoon]] winds, merchants traded [[cotton]], [[glass bead]]s and other goods in exchange for [[gold]] and [[Ivory carving|soft-carved ivory]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Stearns |first=Peter N. |author2=William Leonard Langer |title=The Encyclopedia of world history |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaworl00stea|url-access=limited |year=2001 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=0-395-65237-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaworl00stea/page/n17 16] }}</ref> The influence of the [[Indian architecture]] on the African kingdom shows the level of trade development between the two civilizations.<ref>{{cite book |last=Curtin |first= Philip |title=Cross-cultural trade in world history |year=1984 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-26931-8 |page=100 }}</ref>

Under [[History of Ptolemaic Egypt|Ptolemaic rule]], Ancient Egypt dispatched two trade delegations to India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historycooperative.org/proceedings/interactions/burstein.html |title=State Formation In Ancient Northeast Africa and the Indian Ocean Trade |access-date=2009-03-21 |work=Stanley M. Burstein - University of California at Los Angeles |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802061307/http://www.historycooperative.org/proceedings/interactions/burstein.html |archive-date=2012-08-02 }}</ref> The Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and India had developed bilateral trade using the [[Red Sea]] and Indian ports.<ref name=Shaw>Shaw 2003: page 426</ref> Controlling the western and northern end of other trade routes to [[Arabia|Southern Arabia]] and India,<ref name=Potter>Potter 2004: page 20</ref> the Ptolemies had begun to exploit trading opportunities with India prior to the Roman involvement but according to the historian [[Strabo]] the volume of commerce between India and Greece was not comparable to that of later Indian-Roman trade.<ref name=Young>Young 2001: page 19</ref> The ''Periplus Maris Erythraei'' mentions a time when sea trade between India and Egypt did not involve direct sailings.<ref name=Young/> The cargo under these situations was shipped to [[Aden]]:<ref name=Young/>

{{cquote|Eudaimon Arabia was called fortunate, being once a city, when, because ships neither came from India to Egypt nor did those from Egypt dare to go further but only came as far as this place, it received the cargoes from both, just as [[Alexandria]] receives goods brought from outside and from Egypt.}}

The trade started by [[Eudoxus of Cyzicus]] in 130 BCE kept increasing, and according to Strabo (II.5.12.):<ref name=Strabo>{{cite web| title = The Geography of Strabo published in Vol. I of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1917|url = https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/2E1*.html}}</ref>

{{cquote|"At any rate, when [[Cornelius Gallus|Gallus]] was prefect of Egypt, I accompanied him and ascended the [[Nile]] as far as [[Aswan|Syene]] and the frontiers of [[Kingdom of Aksum]], and I learned that as many as one hundred and twenty vessels were sailing from [[Myos Hormos]] to India, whereas formerly, under the Ptolemies, only a very few ventured to undertake the voyage and to carry on traffic in Indian merchandise."}}

In India, the ports of [[Barbarikon|Barbaricum]] (modern [[Karachi]]), [[Bharuch|Barygaza]], [[Muziris]], [[Korkai]], [[Kaveripattinam]] and [[Arikamedu]] on the southern tip of India were the main centers of this trade. The ''Periplus Maris Erythraei'' describes Greco-Roman merchants selling in Barbaricum "thin clothing, figured linens, [[topaz]], [[coral]], [[storax]], [[frankincense]], vessels of glass, and silver and gold plate" in exchange for "[[costus]], [[bdellium]], [[boxthorn|lycium]], [[spikenard|nard]], [[turquoise]], [[lapis lazuli]], Seric skins, cotton cloth, [[silk]] yarn, and [[indigo dye|indigo]]".<ref name=Periplus>Periplus Maris Erythraei</ref> In Barygaza, they would buy wheat, rice, sesame oil, cotton and cloth.<ref name=Periplus/>

With the establishment of [[History of Roman Egypt|Roman Egypt]], the Romans took over and further developed the already existing trade.<ref name=Shaw/> Roman trade with India played an important role in further developing the Red Sea route. Starting around 100 BCE a route from Roman Egypt to India was established, making use of the Red Sea to cross the [[Arabian Sea]] directly to [[South India|southern India]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Abu Lughod |first=Janet |title=Before European Hegemony: The World System 'A.D. 1250-135 |url=https://archive.org/details/beforeeuropeanhe00abul |url-access=limited |year=1989 |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/beforeeuropeanhe00abul/page/n139 261]–290 }}</ref> Traces of Indian influences are visible in Roman works of silver and ivory, or in Egyptian cotton and silk fabrics.<ref name=Lach>Lach 1994: page 18</ref> The Indian presence in Alexandria may have influenced the culture but little is known about the manner of this influence.<ref name=Lach/> [[Clement of Alexandria]] mentions the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] in his writings and other [[Indian religion]]s find mentions in other texts of the period.<ref name=Lach/>

Blanche D'Souza states that Hindus had, by 1st millennium AD, begun using monsoon-led trade winds to establish trading activities between western parts of India and Mozambique, linking these to other eastern coastal regions of Africa and Arabian peninsula.<ref>Blanche D'Souza (2008), Harnessing the Trade Winds: The Story of the Centuries Old Indian Trade with East Africa, Using the Monsoon Winds, {{ISBN|978-9966712325}}, pp. 12–15 and 110–132</ref><ref>Encyclopedia Americana (1965), Volume 15, pp. 26–32</ref>

=== Medieval period relations ===
Relations attained stronger levels during [[medieval times]] due to the development of [[trade route]]s between the [[Mediterranean]] and [[Asia]], through [[Arabia]] (see also: [[Indo-Mediterranean]]). The [[Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent|Islamic conquest of Indian subcontinent]] also further deepened relations with [[Islam in Africa|Islamic states]] in [[North Africa]]. [[Zheng He]], a Chinese admiral met with the [[Malindi]] envoy present in [[Bengal]]. The Malindi traders had brought tribute of [[Giraffe]] for the [[Bengal Sultanate|Bengal sultan]], so they gave one to the Chinese as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/peculiar-story-giraffes-medieval-china-180963737/|title=The Peculiar Story of Giraffes in 1400s China|last=Eschner|first=Kat|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> Indian Hindu traders were reportedly present according to the records of [[Vasco da Gama]] in the south eastern African coast of [[Mozambique]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Subrahmanyam |first=Sanjay |title=The Portuguese Empire in Asia, 1500-1700: A Political and Economic History |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2012 |language=English}}</ref>

==== African heritage in India ====
Aside from the aforementioned Aksumite trade with India, the documented presence of Africans in India dates back to the eighth century CE. These was due to [[Indian Ocean slave trade|slave trade in the Indian Ocean]], where non-Muslim enslaved Africans, who were sold to India to mainly to serve as [[eunuch]] bodyguards of high-ranking Muslim officials & their [[Harem|harems]] (quarters for Muslim concubines & enslaved Hindu women) & [[zenana]]s were freed from slavery by their owners and appointed in high offices after converting to Islam. Several Africans played an important role in different Indian dynasties. The first Habshi, of whom there is a historical record, was probably Jamal al-Din Yaqut, royal courtier in the [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultanate of Delhi]], in the north of the sub-continent. [[Siddi|Habshis]] were also reported in the interior of northern India. [[Ibn Battuta]] recalls that at Alapur, the Governor was the Abyssinian Badr. A man whose bravery passed into a proverb. Some of the Africans who rose to positions of considerable importance were: [[Malik Ambar]], [[Malik Sarwar]], [[Mubarak Shah (Sayyid dynasty)|Mubarak Shah]], [[Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur|Ibrahim Shah]], Malik Andil, Malik Sandal, Yaqut Dabuli Habshi, Ikhlas Khan, [[Dilawar Khan]], Khavass Khan etc. Many formerly enslaved African Muslims also rose up the ranks to become [[Sultan|Sultans]] in areas like [[Bengal Sultanate|Bengal]], [[Jaunpur Sultanate|Jaunpur]] & [[Malwa Sultanate|Malwa]]. Their role in the History of India is Significant. The Africans, who arrived in [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]] apart from playing their traditional role as bonded guards and servants, were recruited as the [[Nizam of Hyderabad|Nizam]]'s private bodyguard. The Siddi Risala (African Regiment) was retained until 1948. Other Siddis were elevated to the status of Khanazahs (proteges) and became trusted advisers of the Nizams.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Karmwar |first1=Manish |title=African Diaspora in India |journal=Diaspora Studies |date=2010 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=69–91|doi=10.1163/09763457-00301005 }}</ref>

===Under the rule of the British Empire===
During the [[British Empire|British colonial rule]] in the Indian Subcontinent and large parts of Africa, the Indian city of [[Mumbai]] was already a center of [[ivory trade]] between [[East Africa]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhacker |first=M. Reda |title=Trade and Empire in Muscat and Zanzibar: Roots of British Domination |url=https://archive.org/details/tradeempiremusca00bhac |url-access=limited |year=1992 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-07997-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/tradeempiremusca00bhac/page/n191 161] }}</ref>

The stay of [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in South Africa|Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa]] between 1893 and 1915 remains one of the main events which paved the road to the modern-day political relations.

== Modern-day relations ==

===Political===
The development of modern-day relations has gone through two main periods. During the period of [[colonialism]] and [[liberation wars]], political relations became stronger. At the wake of the [[Cold War]], many African countries joined the [[non-aligned movement]] pioneered by [[Egypt]], [[Ghana]], [[India]],<ref name=crown> {{citeweb|url=https://kalaharireview.com/when-oduduwa-met-rama-1ad952938894|website=kalaharireview.com|title=When Oduduwa Met Rama|author=Ominira-Bluejack, 'Shèun|date=February 12, 2024|accessdate=November 19, 2025}} </ref> [[Indonesia]] and [[Yugoslavia]].

During the years of decolonisation, India exerted considerable political and ideological influence in Africa as a role model and a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement.<ref name=crown/> But India's ability to develop a broader strategic role in Africa during the 20th century was subject to several constraints. India's influence was limited by financial weakness and inward-looking economic policies. Its commitment to decolonisation through nonviolent means made it relatively reluctant to provide military assistance to national liberation movements. India's role in East Africa was also constrained by the large Indian ethnic population that was often resented by black African nationalists.<ref>{{cite book|author=David Brewster|url= https://www.academia.edu/7992887|title=India's Ocean: the Story of India's Bid for Regional Leadership. Retrieved 13 August 2014}}</ref> The most famous case of [[Indophobia]] is the [[ethnic cleansing]] of Indians and other [[South Asian]]s in [[Uganda]] by [[Idi Amin]].<ref>General Amin and the Indian Exodus from Uganda
Hasu H. Patel, Issue: A Journal of Opinion, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Winter, 1972), pp. 12-22 {{doi|10.2307/1166488}}</ref>

The [[India-Africa Forum Summit]], which was held from April 4 to April 8, 2008 in [[New Delhi]], India for the first time, constitutes the basic framework for the relations under the [[South-South Cooperation]] platform.

In July 2019, Finance Minister [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] announced that India would open embassies in 18 African countries. This would result in Indian embassies being located in 47 of 54 African countries. Five new embassies were opened in Rwanda, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Guinea and Burkina Faso in 2018-19,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaudhury |first1=Dipanjan Roy |title=Budget 2019: India to open 18 new diplomatic missions across Africa |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/budget-2019-india-to-open-18-new-diplomatic-missions-across-africa/articleshow/70093835.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=5 July 2019 |access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India to open 18 new missions in Africa, including four this fiscal year |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/budget/india-to-open-18-new-missions-in-africa-including-four-this-fiscal-year/story-7wJSlTo6ImVJdlk5vvKrPI.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=4 October 2021 |language=en |date=6 July 2019}}</ref> and eight new embassies were opened in Cameroon,<ref>{{cite web |title=Brief on India - Cameroon Bilateral Relations |url=https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India-Cameroon_se_2019.pdf |website=Ministry of External Affairs |access-date=22 February 2022 |date=September 2019}}</ref> Republic of the Congo,<ref>{{cite web |title=India-Republic of Congo (ROC) Relations |url=https://www.eoibrazzaville.gov.in/page/india-republic-of-congo-roc-relations/ |website=Embassy of India, Brazzaville |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Eritrea,<ref>{{cite web |title=Embassy of India, Asmara |url=http://eoiasmara.gov.in/ |website=Embassy of India, Asmara |access-date=2 October 2022 |quote=Pursuant to the Government of India's decision to open new Missions in 18 African countries, including Eritrea, Embassy of India in Asmara has become functional with effect from August 26, 2019 when Ambassador Shri Subhash Chand assumed the charge of Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea.}}</ref> Eswatini, Sierra Leone, [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], Togo and Liberia in 2019-20.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DelhiFebruary 22 |first1=Geeta Mohan New |title=India opens new mission in Liberia, fourth in this financial year |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-opens-fourth-embassy-in-liberia-1771817-2021-02-22 |website=India Today |date=22 February 2021 |access-date=4 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The other 5 new embassies will be opened in Cape Verde, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Somalia.

There are numerous of [[Indian diaspora in East Africa|Indians and Africans of Indian descent]] living in Africa, mainly in the eastern and southern coast in places such as [[Mauritius]], [[Kenya]] and [[South Africa]].

There are at least 40,000 Africans in India.

===Business===
Trade between India & Africa has grown exponentially during the past 15 years. Indo-African trade volume reached US$53.3 billion in 2010-11 & US$62 billion in 2011–12. It is US$90 billion by 2015. Moreover, Indian firms are conducting numerous takeovers abroad and are venturing into Africa, such as in June 2008, [[Bharti Airtel]], an Indian telecommunications giant, purchased [[Zain Group|Zain Africa]] for US$9 billion.<ref name=crown/><ref>{{cite news |author=Amitha Rajan |date=9 June 2010 |title=Investors Cheer Bharti's Zain Africa Deal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/06/09/investors-cheer-bharti%E2%80%99s-completion-of-zain-africa-deal/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

As of 2015, India has emerged as Africa's fourth largest trade partner behind China, EU & USA whilst Africa has emerged as India's sixth largest trading partner behind EU, China, UAE, USA & ASEAN. This volume was at a meager US$3 billion in 2001. In November 2012 [[FICCI]] President led a business delegation to Ethiopia to meet the new Prime Minister [[Hailemariam Desalegn]] and reaffirm India's commitment to the growth and development of Africa.

Indian companies have already invested more than US$34 billion in the resource-rich continent as of 2011 & further investments worth US$59.7 billion are in the pipeline. Among the proposals that [[Confederation of Indian Industry|CII (Confederation of Indian Industry)]] received from the African nations are 126 agricultural projects worth an investment of $4.74 billion, 177 infrastructure projects worth $34.19 billion, and 34 energy sector plans costing $20.74 billion (337 projects totalling US$59.7 billion). Ex-Prime Minister of India, [[Manmohan Singh|Dr.Manmohan Singh]] while expressing his country's support to Africa, said in an Indo-African trade summit that "Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world in the 21st century. We will work with Africa to enable it to realise this potential". The Indian government has promised to extend loans worth US$5.4 billion (during 2011–14) to several African nations in order to nurture growth in those nations. According to [[Rejaul Karim Laskar]], a scholar of India's foreign policy, "the African countries are presently at such a stage of development when India can offer the most appropriate technology at competitive prices".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Laskar|first1=Rejaul Karim|title=India-Africa relations reaching new heights|agency=The Assam Tribune|date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

===India–Africa Forum Summit===
{{main|Bandung Conference|India–Africa Forum Summit}}

The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for African-Indian relations. The IAFS is held once in every three years. It was first held from April 4 to April 8, 2008 in New Delhi, and was the first such meeting between the heads of state and government of India and 14 countries of Africa chosen by the [[African Union]].

===Indian foreign aid to Africa===
{{see|Indian foreign aid}}
In 2006, India launched its flagship aid initiative in Africa by constructing the $125 million [[Pan-African e-Network project|Pan-African e-Network]], the continent's largest tele-education and telemedicine initiative. The network links 47 African countries with schools and hospitals in India through satellite and fiber-optic links.<ref name="devex2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.devex.com/news/india-s-foreign-aid-program-catches-up-with-its-global-ambitions-80919|title=India's foreign aid program catches up with its global ambitions|website=www.devex.com|access-date=2016-05-02|date=2013-05-10}}</ref>

At the second India–Africa Forum Summit in [[Addis Ababa]], [[Ethiopia]] in 2011, then Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] expressed India's desire to help African nations with their development needs. Singh announced that India would invest $700 million to establish educational institutions and training programs in several African countries, including [[Uganda]], [[Ghana]], [[Botswana]] and [[Burundi]]. The Prime Minister also announced $5 billion in lines of credit for African nations. India made further commitments to Africa at the [[Third India Africa Forum Summit|third India-Africa Forum Summit]] in 2014.<ref name="devex2" />

India allocated $43 million or 7% of its technical cooperation budget to African countries in 2012–13, a 4% increase over the previous fiscal.<ref name="devex2" /> India budgeted $63 million in aid to African countries in 2014–15, less than 5% of its total foreign aid budget and slightly higher than the previous fiscal.<ref name="devex3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.devex.com/news/modi-budget-hikes-indian-aid-mum-on-regional-bank-83920|title=Modi budget hikes Indian aid, mum on regional bank|website=www.devex.com|access-date=2016-05-02|date=2014-07-18}}</ref>

== Cultural relations ==

===Africa-lndia Cultural Diplomacy===
{{See also|Soft power of India in Africa}}
{{AI-generated|section=Cultural|date=August 2025}}
Indian cinema has played a significant role in Africa, connecting communities with Indian culture through films that offer insights into social values, fashion, and cuisine, which has become an important aspect of the soft power of India in Africa.<ref>Shehina Fazal, "The 'soft power' of Indian Cinema in Africa," Awaaz Magazine, [https://www.awaazmagazine.com/volume-20/issue-2-volume-20/the-soft-power-of-indian-cinema-in-africa Published online].</ref>

The [[Indian diaspora in Africa]], spanning 46 countries and representing a significant portion of India's total diaspora, plays a crucial role in enhancing bilateral relations and shaping Africa-India cultural connections through substantial investments and involvement in cultural programs and sectors of governance.<ref>Rajneesh Gupta, "Indian Diaspora in Africa: Historical Roots and Current Strength," Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170226101415/http://grfdt.com/PublicationDetails.aspx?Type=Articles&TabId=1033 Accessed on August 29, 2024]}}.</ref>

India's cultural diplomacy is also reflected in its spread of Yoga and Ayush practices, with initiatives like the International Day of Yoga strengthening cultural ties and enhancing bilateral relations, exemplifying the [[soft power of India in Africa]].<ref>Amb (Retd) Bhaswati Mukherjee, "India's culture Diplomacy and Soft Power," Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, [https://www.mea.gov.in/distinguished-lectures-detail.htm?855 Accessed on August 29, 2024].</ref>

=== Sports ===
British colonisation gave India and Africa new sporting ties, such as through [[cricket]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Cricket & Colonialism: A Tale of Imperial Power & Influence |url=https://www.thecollector.com/cricket-colonialism-tale/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=TheCollector |language=en}}</ref> The colonial era also saw the Indian sport [[kho kho]] come [[Traditional games of South Africa#Kho-kho|to South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ke Nako! South Africa Goes Kho: Uncovering The History And Future Of Kho Kho In SA |url=https://www.news18.com/sports/ke-nako-south-africa-goes-kho-uncovering-the-history-and-future-of-kho-kho-in-sa-9194153.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

==India's foreign relations with African countries==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{flagicon|Algeria}} [[Algeria–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Angola}} [[Angola–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Benin}} [[Benin–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Botswana}} [[Botswana–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Burkina Faso}} [[Burkina Faso–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Burundi}} [[Burundi–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Cameroon}} [[Cameroon–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Cape Verde}} [[Cape Verde–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Central African Republic}} [[Central African Republic–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Chad}} [[Chad–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Comoros}} [[Comoros–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Republic of the Congo}} [[Republic of the Congo–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Djibouti}} [[Djibouti–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Egypt}} [[Egypt–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Equatorial Guinea}} [[Equatorial Guinea–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Eritrea}} [[Eritrea–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Eswatini}} [[Eswatini–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} [[Ethiopia–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Gabon}} [[Gabon–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Gambia}} [[Gambia–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Ghana}} [[Ghana–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Guinea}} [[Guinea–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Guinea-Bissau}} [[Guinea-Bissau–India relations]]
* {{flagicon|Ivory Coast}} [[India–Ivory Coast relations]]
* {{flagicon|Kenya}} [[India–Kenya relations]]
* {{flagicon|Lesotho}} [[India–Lesotho relations]]
* {{flagicon|Liberia}} [[India–Liberia relations]]
* {{flagicon|Libya}} [[India–Libya relations]]
* {{flagicon|Madagascar}} [[India–Madagascar relations]]
* {{flagicon|Malawi}} [[India–Malawi relations]]
* {{flagicon|Mali}} [[India–Mali relations]]
* {{flagicon|Mauritania}} [[India–Mauritania relations]]
* {{flagicon|Mauritius}} [[India–Mauritius relations]]
* {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[India–Morocco relations]]
* {{flagicon|Mozambique}} [[India–Mozambique relations]]
* {{flagicon|Namibia}} [[India–Namibia relations]]
* {{flagicon|Niger}} [[India–Niger relations]]
* {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[India–Nigeria relations]]
* {{flagicon|Rwanda}} [[India–Rwanda relations]]
* {{flagicon|São Tomé and Príncipe}} [[India–São Tomé and Príncipe relations]]
* {{flagicon|Senegal}} [[India–Senegal relations]]
* {{flagicon|Seychelles}} [[India–Seychelles relations]]
* {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} [[India–Sierra Leone relations]]
* {{flagicon|Somalia}} [[India–Somalia relations]]
* {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[India–South Africa relations]]
* {{flagicon|South Sudan}} [[India–South Sudan relations]]
* {{flagicon|Sudan}} [[India–Sudan relations]]
* {{flagicon|Tanzania}} [[India–Tanzania relations]]
* {{flagicon|Togo}} [[India–Togo relations]]
* {{flagicon|Tunisia}} [[India–Tunisia relations]]
* {{flagicon|Uganda}} [[India–Uganda relations]]
* {{flagicon|Zambia}} [[India–Zambia relations]]
* {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} [[India–Zimbabwe relations]]
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[Africa–United States relations]]
* [[Africa–Soviet Union relations]]
* [[Foreign relations of the European Union#Africa and the Middle East|Africa–European Union relations]]
* [[France–Africa relations]]
* [[Afro-Asia]]
** [[Sino-African relations|China–Africa relations]]
** [[Japanese foreign policy on Africa|Africa–Japan relations]]
** [[Africa–South Korea relations]]
** [[Africa–North Korea relations]]
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[Siddi]]
* [[Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa]]
{{commons category}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Malone, David M., C. Raja Mohan, and Srinath Raghavan, eds. ''The Oxford handbook of Indian foreign policy'' (2015) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Handbook-Indian-Foreign-Policy/dp/0198799063/ excerpt] pp 566–580.
* [[Lionel Casson]], ''The Periplus Maris Erythraei: Text With Introduction, Translation, and Commentary'' ([[Princeton University Press]], 1989) {{ISBN|0-691-04060-5}}
* [[Shanti Sadiq Ali]], ''The African dispersal in the Deccan: from medieval to modern times'' (Orient Blackswan, 1996) {{ISBN|81-250-0485-8}}
* [[World Review]], "[http://www.worldreview.info/content/india-trades-private-sector-build-economic-ties-africa India trades on private sector to build economic ties with Africa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913202442/https://worldreview.info/ |date=2019-09-13 }}" [http://www.worldreview.info www.worldreview.info]
* [[Rejaul Karim Laskar]], ''India-Africa relations reaching new heights'', ''The Assam Tribune'', June 4, 2011.
* Arndt Michael (2014) ''Advent of a 'Game Changer'?: India's Economic, Political and Strategic Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1991 until 2014'', in: India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 70 No. 4: 341–357

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170325040819/http://www.focusafrica.gov.in/Focus_Africa_Programme.html Focus Africa]

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{International fora on Africa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Africa-India relations}}
[[Category:India–Africa relations| ]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Africa|India]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of India by region]]

Africa–India relations - Revision history

Manikmusicscapgk at 03:01, 9 April 2026