This chapterAfricans \i undertakesCoastalsettlements \i an in-depth exploration of the narrative surrounding the African Diaspora in India, dating from the eighth to fourteenth centuries. This period has seen notable cultural and demographic transformations initiated by the influx of AfricansAfricans \i, primarily facilitated by ArabArab \i traders through maritimeMaritime \i routes. By examining indigenous sources, including local chronicles, architectural remnants, and oral traditions, the chapter reconstructs the socio-cultural landscape of coastal Indian settlementsSettlements \i, free from colonial interpretations. The African presence in India stretched in two distinct waves, beginning with Ethiopian traders and settlers from the Abyssinian empire of Aksum between the fourth and eighth centuries, known as Habshis. Their integration into Indian society was multidimensional, while maintaining sometimes distinct cultural identitiesIdentities \i. The subsequent wave, from the thirteenth century, witnessed the arrival of Africans, predominantly from the Eastern Coast of Africa, in various roles. Despite South Asian slavery, Africans in India, often referred to as SiddisSiddis \i, assumed diverse roles, such as traders, soldiers, artisans, kingmakers, and influencers in the royal courts and Indian society. This chapter unveils their significant impact on the cultural and economic spheres of Indian society, cultureCulture \i, economy and even politics with a notable concentration of people of African-origin in various regions. By interpreting the trans-geographical cultural exchanges involving Africans during the early and mature medieval ages of India, this study contributes to the enrichment of the historiography of the region, offering a revisited perspective on its diverse and pluralistic past, which is often overlooked in the existing historiography. The chapter also looks into the significant role of ports as gateways for cultural exchange, explores the dynamics of assimilation and identity transformation among Africans in India, and highlights their adaptations to the new social and cultural milieu. It also demonstrates their acceptance in Indian society and their continuous penetration from coastal areas to the mainland, enriching the narrative of India's regionalRegionalculture, history \i history.