Malik Ambar, 1556–1626 ‘Malik Ambar, born in Harar (in modern-day Ethiopia) was sold into military slavery as a child by his parents and went on to become a Siddi military leader and statesman in the Deccan region of India. A proponent of guerrilla warfare, he built an independent mercenary force numbering up to 1,500 men. He has become one of the most celebrated Afro-Indians in history, known as a great administrator, city planner and military tactician’