Category Archives: Poland

Poznan – Opera

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The premiere of Stanisław Moniuszka’s “Jawnuta” took place Friday in Pozna. The opera is directed by the Italian director Ilaria Lanzino, who is known for her unconventional and innovative performance.

For her, “Jawnuta” is a story about Polish Roma with a difficult history, the power of prejudices and finding a way to avoid them. She thus invited artists of Roma origin to cooperate.

The opera can be watched on you tube:

 

https://youtu.be/9XK4sgxjhRw

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas

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The exhibition of Małgorzata Mirgi-Tas’ works, entitled “Wędrujemy images”, will be open to visitors from December 2nd at the International Cultural Centre in Krakow. This is the first exhibition of a Roma artist after her success at this year’s 59th Venice Biennale.

Polish Racism

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A book on Polish racism has been published and is reviewed in the Polish edition of Vogue. The book, called „Odejdź” [Leave] authored by Agnieszka Kościańska and Michał Petryk is insightful, written with exposing passion, painfully interesting and just as necessary. Because Poland is not a tolerant country, but rather a structurally racist one, and has been for many decades. Contempt for the Other is part of our culture.

Polish racism is doing well. It peeks out from almost every corner and withered bush. It is clearly visible on our border with Belarus, where people are dying as a result of the illegal decisions of the Polish government and the joyful consent of many Poles. It can even be seen in relation to some Ukrainians (it is not – so far – fashionable, but who knows what will happen in a moment)

Don Vasyl and Plagiarism

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Another article on the Roma musician who has recently been accused of plagiarism. Two Poles, whom Don Vasyl acknowledge helped him on the Polish words of some song claim he infringed on their rights. One of the songs they deposited in the Polish Author’s rights is the Roma National Anthem, in a part Polish version, with Romanes words that tey do not even understand …

Not the first such case.

Romani Rose and Auschwitz Council

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Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma is a new member of the International Auschwitz Council. The Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki appointed him to the committee. The Council advises the Polish government on all matters relating to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Other members include Yad Vashem Chairman Dayan and World Jewish Congress President Lauder. Rose warned that nationalists and right-wing extremists in many European countries were trying to deny and relativize the crimes of the Holocaust against six million Jews and 500,000 Sinti and Roma. Every form of Holocaust denial and falsification of history must be opposed. Education programs specifically for young people at historical sites of persecution and extermination are important “to counteract anti-Semitism, anti-Gypsyism and racism in our societies,” Rose explained.

Roma Graves

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The graves of the Roma from Świebodzice in Southwestern Poland stand out in the cemetery. The locals are used to seeing human figures made of marble with golden signet rings on the squares and a cell phone in their hand. Visitors, especially those visiting the cemetery for the first time, cannot pass by indifferently. They take pictures and look at the monuments with interest.

Auschwitz on Roma

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The International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust organised a meeting devoted to the extermination of the Roma for the inhabitants of Oświęcim and its vicinity. It will be held on November 4.

The Centre announced that the meeting is part of the “Around the History of Auschwitz” series. Classes have been conducted since May this year.

Lublin: Contest on Roma Culture

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On October 18, 2022 in Lublin, an educational and cultural event will be held: It is entitled  “Contest of Knowledge about Roma Culture” implemented thanks to a grant awarded by the Minister of the Interior and Administration as part of the “Program of social and civic integration of the Roma in Poland for the years 2021-2030”. The project will be an opportunity to establish mutual contacts between representatives of the Roma and Polish communities of the younger generation, strengthen the already existing ties and learn about the Roma traditions and customs.

As part of the task, a Competition on the Knowledge of Roma Culture will be organized, during which students of Lublin secondary schools will prepare multimedia presentations on the traditions, customs, everyday life of the Roma, their education, culture, cuisine and sports initiatives or prepare artistic performances. It is the first initiative of this type in Lublin.

Poland and Roma Integration

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As part of the Program of social and civic integration of the Roma in Poland for 2021-2030 adopted by Resolution No. 190/2020 of the Council of Ministers of December 21, 2020, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is starting the procedure related to submitting applications for the implementation of tasks in 2023 year.

According to the “Information on the procedure for granting subsidies from the Social and Civic Integration Program of the Roma in Poland for 2021-2030 for tasks in the fields of: Education, Housing, Innovative Integration Projects in 2023” prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the deadline for submitting applications to voivodes is November 15, 2022.

OSCE Conference and Ukraine

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During the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference organised by the OSCE, the plight of Ukrainian Roma both inside and outside of the country was thematised. Ukrainian Roma NOGs attended the conference, most notably the Chirikli Romnja NGO.

  • Monitoring and addressing the human rights challenges faced by Roma fleeing Ukraine discussed at ODIHR event. In: OSCE. 03.10.2022. https://www.osce.org/odihr/527619

Papuša

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Bronisława Wajs, better known as Papuša was a famous Polish Romni and poet. She wrote a diary and almost 200 pages of her notes have survived. She wrote: “My origin. Daddy was from Warmijaki and Berniks (a group of Polish Roma), mummy from Galician Gypsies.” “A better family from a father. I do not remember my father well, I was five when he died in Siberia (around 1914). Mummy married Jan Wajs Jan after eight years … I felt good for one, but bad for the other, because I couldn’t read when I was twelve ”.

She did not write in which year and in which town she was born (it is known that her mother’s name was Katarzyna Zielińska). In the excellent book by Angelika Kuźniak entitled From Papusza, we can read that the poet was born on August 17, 1908 in Sitaniec near Zamość, or on May 10, 1910 in Lublin. Whereas Jerzy Ficowski, a poet, prose writer, essayist and translator, in the book entitled “Gypsies on Polish roads” only wrote that Papusza was born in 1909 or 1910.

Why?

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This is a parade example of bad journalism. A Polish newspaper reports on a car crash. Already not really interesting in itself. But then chooses to indicate that the car owner and driver is a Rom.

Why?

On Polish Racism

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An interesting article and interview of Agnieszka Kościańska adi Michał Petryk, the authors of a book titles “Polish Racism” on the prevalence of racism in Poland and the use of the term “Negro” in Polish. On Roma, it says that they have “always been invisible”.

According to Agnieszka Kościańska,  Anti-Gypsyism in Poland and Eastern Europe is a phenomenon similar to classical racism. We have Roma who live in ghettos, are lowest on the social ladder, and often visually stand out on the streets of Polish cities. This situation limits their opportunities for work or education. At the same time, we hear from everywhere: “It’s their fault,” “They discriminate themselves,” “They don’t care about their education,” “They don’t know how to take care of their homes,” and so on.

Duda and the Litzmannstadt Ghetto

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“The truth about the Holocaust is and will remain a shocking warning against disregarding chauvinism and imperialism in any form,” stressed President Andrzej Duda in a letter read during the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the liquidation of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto and the 80th anniversary of the so-called Wielka Szpera.

There were also Roma in the Ghetto.

Papusza

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A reportage on an exhibition in Żagan, in Western Poland, about the Romani Poetess Papusza. She lived there before moving to Gorzów Wielkopolski. She came from a group of Polish Roma. There were many artists in her family, playing at weddings or in taverns. She learned to read and write on her own. Her enormous talent was discovered by Jerzy Ficowski, supported by Julian Tuwim.

More Polish Articles on Auschwitz Commemoration

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Roma Holocaust Remembrance: Poland

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Some extracts and reactions in the Polish Press on the commemorations of the Roma Holocaust.

rroma.org
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