# Conclusion  
The formation of heterogeneous communities of descendants of Africans has brought social, economic, ethnic and cultural diversity to Iran. This article has shown that various factors influenced the extent of assimilation and integration of these populations. For example, where social hierarchies tended to remain fixed - such as in the more rural areas of Baluchistan - endogamous marriages were encouraged and African communities tended to remain visibly distinctive. This was not so much the case elsewhere. However, it is crucial to note that any resulting social inequalities were not based on race but on class and power. Following the political transformations of the twentieth century and globalization in recent decades, the rigidity of local social structures and rules has waned. This has led to a significant increase in exogamous marriages and fuller social assimilation. With the loss of notions of 'Africanness', more emphasis has been placed on unique cultural identities and boundaries at the local and provincial level, and the multiple ethnic facets of a single shared identity have been crystalized in Iranians of African descent.