Makrani

Makrani refers to communities associated with the Makran coast, a coastal region along the Gulf of Oman in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province and parts of southern Iran, with related groups also found among diasporic communities in western India, especially Gujarat. The term is tied to geography and regional history rather than a single, uniform ethnicity, and its meaning can vary by source.

In Pakistan, Makrani groups are often considered part of the broader Baloch ethnolinguistic family. Some traditions claim Arab ancestry due to long-standing maritime and trading contacts, while others emphasize local Baloch or mixed origins. The Makran coast has historically been a crossroads for various populations, leading to diverse familial and cultural lineages.

Languages among Makrani communities vary by location. In Pakistan, many Makrani speak Balochi, Brahui, or local languages, and Islam is the predominant faith. In Gujarat, India, communities associated with the Makrani name—often referred to as Makeers—speak Gujarati or Kathiawari varieties and are predominantly Muslim. Cultural practices reflect a blend of coastal, South Asian, and Middle Eastern influences, including music, dress, and maritime-oriented traditions.

Economically and historically, Makrani groups have been linked to seafaring and regional trade networks, with communities historically engaged in coastal commerce and related crafts. The present-day Makrani populations are geographically dispersed and culturally diverse, reflecting centuries of migration, exchange, and intermarriage along the Makran coast and beyond.