The movie Aferim on Rroma slavery in Romania is still going strong!
A festival in Romania – for the New Year!
Clearly, with the events in France, the “Rroma Problem” somehow faded in the background. Interestingly enough, the Rroma yes, the “Gens du Voyage” [Travellers], not. So here’s a short overview of the general news: In La Courneuve, where Rroma were expelled from their camp, expelled Rroma organised a dinner for the victims of the attacks in Paris; an article about the scholarisation of Rroma children; in Lyon, a demonstration for migrants was annulled following the attacks; in the north, Rroma have problems to get their skills recognised; Rroma are still squatting; in another place, the illegal camps are resolved – allegedly; in Beziers, in the South, an association against Racism is being asked to vacate their offices; in the West, in la Rochelle, health is more important than money, thanks God; some people are thinking about the causes for the attack; and finally, festivals and music in various place in France on Rroma.
Flamenco is being used for staging flashmobs in Spain and is seen as a way to reconnect to the Rroma roots of the participants. Bravo!
An interview of Ayhan Küçükboyacı, a Turkish Rroma musician.
For once, Womex, held in Budapest, featured a Rroma band on the centre stage: Romego together with Monika Lakatos. Especially in view of the situation of Rroma in Hungary, well done!
Muharem Serbezovski is one of the key Rroma voice in nowadays’ Serbia. Listen to him, and not to the copycats …
During the second Rroma cultural festival in Dortmund, young Rroma took part in a round table aimed at reducing stereotypes. They spoke about their lives, and clearly, these do not conform to the stereotypes. This can be felt in the article, as the journalist has trouble accepting that this is the norm and not the exception.
The exceptions are the ones the press speak about all the time!
A review of Israel Galvan’s “Lo Real” performance based on the Rroma Holocaust in Edinburgh.
Israel Galvan’s “Lo Real”, the Flamenco spectacle that speaks of the Rroma Holocaust is in Edinburgh this week.
Another festival in Slovakia, in Banska Bystrica and Zvolen: The festival people from the house of Roma. This year, the festival focuses on the young generation with several workshops for youngsters from different countries.
The largest Rroma Festival in Bratislava. Quite a few groups from all over Europe.
The Sziget (Island) festival in Budapest is by now an institution. Several Rroma groups appear there, although the old “Rroma Tent” has been discontinued. Yesterday saw Gogol Bordello, but the program continues!
Another article on the group of young Rroma musicians and dancers from Slovakia, Kesaj Tchave and of a French association helping them.
Israel Galvan, the Flamenco dancer, in his latest choreography “Lo Real” paid a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.
Worth seeing!
An article on Kesaj Tchave, a group of young Rroma musicians, singers, dancers who are come from real ghettoes who tour Europe under the direction of Ivan Akimov.
The largest Rroma festival in Slovakia, Gypsy Fest went to the street in Bratislava.
In Hautbourdin, in France, the Mayor evacuated the local Rroma camp by dumping three truckloads of manure according to international press or mud, according to the French sources. The camp in the North of France was under evacuation order, nevertheless, the actions of the municipality go beyond decency and legality.
Volunteers and people showing solidarity went to the camp and plated crosses in the fresh mud.
Another camp was expulsed in Bron, in the Rhone region and another one in Henin-Beaumont, also in the North, while in the Grenoble region, they report on a large camp with an evangelical preacher.
Finally, in Sevran, a round table and a festival has been organised to explain who the Rroma in France truly are. The round table, held on the 17th, had a minister and several Rroma activists.
In the centre of Jodhpur, a Flamenco and Gypsy music festival brings Rroma back to their original roots in North Western India…
To be seen!
The BBC published a long reportage about the vanishing Gypsy “Cigan” Music in Budapest. This music, while played by Rroma musicians on some of the typical Rroma instruments such as the Cymbalom, has little in effect to do with Rroma music. It is and was a collection of Hungarian Schlagers, a few Hungarian folk songs and the odd typically Rroma song, these later ones can still be heard across the borders in Slovakia, still sung in Rromanes, and in Romania, especially in Transylvania.
There were and are still some great dynasties such as the Lakatos who perpetuate the style, but, in a time where recorded music is ubiquitous, the Rroma orchestras of Budapest are a vanishing breed, only kept in a few touristy restaurants. The past is gone, but music still stays, in new forms as for example with the munch more modern Roma Varadi Café!
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