Category Archives: Czech Republic

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Halgato

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Halgato

The specific Romani musical genre halgató, characterized by long and sad songs, could receive official recognition and be included on the list of intangible cultural heritage. Now, the bearers of the tradition are striving for this together with experts, according to whom it is an important living part of the Roma identity, which is passed down between generations, and should also have its place on the UNESCO list.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Romane Gilja

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Romane Gilja

Singing out of suffering. Romani halgató singing is passed down through generations, it is important for the community and identity

Romani halgató singing is a specific musical genre. It is characterized by long, sad songs, usually accompanied by light guitar or violin accompaniment. The musical tradition could gain official recognition. Dozens of people and bearers of this tradition, including researchers and members of the Romani community, are seeking to have the halgató genre listed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Funeral of Ladislav Goral

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Funeral of Ladislav Goral

The longtime Roma activist Ladislav Gorav’s funeral took place in Prague today.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Ladislav Goral

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Ladislav Goral

Ladislav Goral, an important figure in the Czech Roma movement, has passed away at the age of 86. Hew was born in Slovakia but move after the war to Czech lands. As an actor, activist, he made a huge impact on the Roma movement in Czechia.

May he rest in peace. Te avel i phuv lokhi.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Memorial Space

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Memorial Space

Descendants of survivors of the Genocide of the Roma in the Czech Republic expressed reservations in a joint statement about how memorialisation is handled in Czechia. First and foremose, the use of “Gypy” camp insetad of concentration camp, but they mentioned other issues such as the lack of consultation with the families of survivors and the used and choice of vicual materials.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Racism and Football

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Racism and Football

Last November, young footballers from Jihlava, Czechia, had to listen to racist insults on a train from Děčín. The event also angered President Petr Pavel at the time. The Jihlava club Mongaguá is now reporting another unpleasant experience, this time directly from the Jihlava square.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Systemic Racism

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Systemic Racism

A new report finds systemic racism against Roma in the Czewch Republic. Not suprising, but sad.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Schools and Disadvantaged Students

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Schools and Disadvantaged Students

An article about the fact that there are gifted children among Roma … Clearly so, but not for everybody. Statistics and new studies show that there are thoughtful and bright children among them, but as a society we have great reserves in recognizing and supporting them.

“In segregated schools, talent is usually not talked about, and if it is, it is in the context of artistic or sports talent. Roma children are good at boxing, music and dance, but not at mathematics,” describes Karel Gargulák from the research company PAQ Research, how Czech society is used to thinking about certain groups of the population. “

Segregation is bad, just think of the USA …

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Prejudice

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Prejudice

An interview with Sára Kaplanová on prejudice, her job as a nurse, and on her social media presence.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Antonín Běla

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Antonín Běla

The 1990s were wild. No exaggeration. The old order fell, the new was just being born, and in between, there was room for people who were not afraid to do things a little differently, so to speak. One of the most prominent figures in the underworld of that time was Antonín Běla. A man who, according to experts, was not exactly the smartest, but in reality he didn’t particularly mind. He had a “knack for people” and was able to build an empire around himself that other gangsters could only dream of.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Serbia Slovakia

Milena Hübschmanova

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Milena Hübschmanova

A radio show in Serbia presenting the work of the prominent Czech linguist and ethnographer Milena Hübschmanova, a pioneer in the research of the Romani language and culture. She was among the first to lay the foundations of Romani studies in the then Czechoslovakia and one of the few who dedicated her life to the study and preservation of the Romani language, recording folk tales, songs and life testimonies of the Roma. Her work was of enormous importance for the affirmation of Romani identity and education, and her studies continue to serve as the basis for contemporary research on the Roma in Europe.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Kali Sara

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Kali Sara

On December 20, 2025, the dance-theatre production Kali Sara, patron saint of the Roma premiered at the Horácký Theatre in Jihlava, which tells the story of the Romani patron saint and symbol of Romani identity through dance and theatre. The original performance was presented by children and young people from the art groups Lole Čhama and Bare Kalore, active in the AV-Amari Vysočina association. The production touches on the themes of equality, prejudice, trust and belonging.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Roma Council

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Roma Council

Two members of the Czech Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs, David Tišer and Gwendolyn Albert, have terminated their membership in this advisory body. They decided to resign after careful consideration in response to the development of the political environment in the Czech Republic, in which political entities and positions that openly or indirectly question the basic principles of human rights, equality and the protection of minorities are gradually being legitimized.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Roma and Media

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Roma and Media

Roma have long been portrayed in limited and stereotypical roles in Czech media and film – as victims, perpetrators or caricatures. Alica Sigmund Heráková, founder of the Tuke.TV platform and the TUKINO film festival, talks about why authentic Roma stories, Roma authors and diverse characters are missing in audiovisual media in the new episode of the SODAcast podcast.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Jana Horváthová

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Jana Horváthová

An Interview with the director of the Czech Museum of Roma Culture Jana Horváthová. She was asked what issues from her own family did she have to deal with?

“Throughout my childhood and youth, I considered my Roma origin to be a kind of mark of Cain,” she says.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Czechia, Slovakia, and Christmas

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Czechia, Slovakia, and Christmas

The well-known Roma musician Gejza Horváth can tell you at length how they celebrated Christmas. He was born in 1948 in Písečná in the Šumpersk region, but spent his childhood in the settlement of Kolinovce near the Slovak town of Krompachy. He comes from a musical family and was already playing with the biggest bands in Slovakia at the age of twelve. So he was definitely not bored at Christmas. In Gejza Horváth’s childhood, Roma would go around the village to play carols for the gádže

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Spain

Sally Cortes

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Sally Cortes

“The first step must be taken by oneself – to believe that one can achieve everything one dreams of,” says Romani writer and activist Sally Cortés in an interview.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Romano Football

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Romano Football

The Roma football club, which was founded without a pitch and without money, today attracts the attention of opponents and spectators throughout the district. SK Roma Mělník had to fight for its place in football. “I was excited, but at the same time I knew that starting from scratch would be incredibly difficult,” says its chairman and player Dominik Malinský in the DROMcast podcast.

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