Two article on a festival last week end in Western France.
An interesting proposition … Concerts at home. A Dutch musician, together with 4 Rromni is making concerts in people’s homes. A nice way for people to meet Rroma.
In spite of some positive coverage due to the international Rroma day, this week’s French chronicle is not particularly nice. First, an intervention of the police in a Rroma camp near the prison of Loos in the North of France, an attempt to remove the Rroma from this camp; in the North, two families are expulsed; toilets are awaited in a camp near la Rochelle in the West of France; a new camping spot for travelers is installed near Paris in the bois de Vioncennes; near Paris, the arrival of Rroma is problematic; the Seine’s banks are being cleaned near a former Rroma camp; and news about a gang of thieves who stole tools near Dijon.
On a more positive note, a French Radio broadcasted for a day from a Rroma ghetto in Paris; and a positive action in the North of France!
Swiss travelers don’t want to be thrown into the same pot as foreign Rroma and Sinti (note that Rroma are always foreign here).
Too bad the press plays along.
A festival is taking place right now in the South of France in Marseilles…
Romanian Rroma street musicians have proven to be a hit on YouTube. 130’000 hits and counting.
The story of the Rroma musicians from Kosovo fighting discrimination is doing the rounds! Good and a good reminder that Rroma were ethnically cleansed away from Kosovo.
We reported yesterday on the Kosovo Rroma musician fighting prejudice. More about them here !
Some Rroma musicians in Kosovo are using music to fight the prejudices they are facing as Rroma in Kosovo. That country, although it had one of the highest proportion of Rroma in the Balkan has been ethnically cleaned. Only ca. 25’000 Rroma remain, less that 10% of the original population.
A Manouche in the temple of classical music in Zurich … It doesn’t happen everyday.
Gypsy jazz – kind of explained …
Polish Rroma in Scotland are facing stereotypes and usually cannot say who they are. Here, in Glasgow, a group of Polish Rroma uses music to show their traditions and effectively come out.
A French Documentary movie entitled “Toto and his sisters” received the “grand prix” in the Anger Festival. It is unfortunate to say the least that it shows all stereotypes associated with Rroma without any analytical discourse: Rroma live in Ghettoes, deal with drugs, have lots of children (implied in this case), but without stating that this is not a Rroma thing, this is a poverty and social problem.
We are generally against those kind of documentaries, as they reinforce already strongly held stereotypes about us …
NOT GOOD!!!
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!
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