The Siddi are an ethnic group descended from East Africans who were brought to India as slaves beginning in the sixteenth century. Today, some Siddi communities—many of which are located in India's western state of Karnataka—remain largely isolated from their neighbors. Siddi quiltmaking is a longstanding folk art, practiced by women over many generations. To make a kawandi (quilt), a Siddi woman begins with a base made from a length of sari (wrapped garment) fabric. Starting at one corner and working her way around toward the center, usually counter-clockwise, she attaches overlapping cloth patches to a base fabric with rows of running stitches. The result is an overall irregular aesthetic similar to a Crazy quilt.