Contents 2 Miri camera Harald Medbøe
10 International Roma Day Tore-Jarl Bielenberg
12 Gelem, gelem Žarko Jovanovic
14 Gică from Văcărești Alexandru Tîlvîc
22 Roma Ciprian Necula
24 Interview with Diguday Diana Pascu
30 Devla Tudor Lakatos
32 Interview with Mihaela Drăgan Diana Pascu
36 A Romanian studying Romani Andrei Dinescu
38 Interview with Marian Petre Harald Medbøe and Diana Pascu
44 The Great Shame Alina Șerban
48 Manele Adrian Șchiop
50 Șaraiman & Șaraiman Shaun Williams
53 The price of slavery Ciprian Necula
53 Folk er Folk Norwegian magazine
54 Interview with Jenel Stan Harald Medbøe and Diana Pascu
57 Pantha rei Sorin Aurel Sandu
58 Interview with Denis Nanciu Harald Medbøe and Diana Pascu
3
My Camera
Miri kamera
Text and photographs by Harald Medbøe
English
4
Romani
It was a Friday evening and the party on Quarry
together to peek inside. I struggled to make my
Savato sas taj sirdelas e khelimata ande Kariera
lende phares tha, feri duj zorale terne cirdem
Street was just getting started. The clock showed
way through the less fortunate inhabitants of
ulica. O vaxt sas karing ena rati, taj kalikardo
man andre. Andi barrori sas jekh bari meseli taj
9 and it was getting dark. Manele with alluring
Quarry Street before being pulled inside by two
sa avri. Inteal jekh uci bar asunelas pes zorales
pasa late le but terne modernura. Save mol taj
rhythms were blaring out loud in the speakers
brawny guys. In the yard was set a long table,
manele musika. Kothe andi jekh barrori le
berea pienas loshale. Le rromnea khelenas vi
of the small garden behind the streetside fence.
beside which stood a group of modern Roma.
terne tangardenas pen taj sirdenas jakhancar
von mishto pi muzika, thaj me beslem ke mesleli
A group of curious youngsters were huddling
They were drinking beer and wine and the mood
andre bareate. Zumavdom te zav andre pande
tha sigo dasman varekon jekh glaja berasa.
(duj)
(trin)
5
English was a pleasant one. A little further the women were dancing on the mishto ('very beautiful')
6
Romani over. 'There was a break-in in your room. You need
Arakhleman mishto ke von kamle man maskar
slobodo te dikhes le changa, le koci le zuvleange.
lende.
Le rromnea khelade pen, taj vi man dilarde le
music. I sat down and I was also offered a beer.
to come quick.'
Khonik
thaj
dikhimnacar taj le bangarde maskarencar. Palem
It was this welcome gesture that made me feel
I ran the few meters to the small room that I had
xakerimos sas feri po sikavimati thaj I akcia.
beslom, taj pileom nisave berea zi kana semas
safe on Quarry Street. I was accepted.
rented. The door was wide open. I checked my
Trin jene bashavenas le maj gugli disko manele
matorro. O Rromeo amboldeas taj akhardas man
But nobody was speaking English there. I could
belongings to see what was missing. The camera
andi Rumunia. Andar I tradicionala muzika saj
peste, thaj phendas: sas pharavdi tiri kamera,
only feel the general mood and I was rather
bag was gone. The laptop was still there, hid
arakhes vareso sar zumaven te bashaven lokes
musai sigo te oves...
guessing the conversations. The live band finally
under the bed, as were the trunk containing my
thaj bi te avel bari sikavimata. Tha kadale neve
Naslem kode kotor drom ki kamera kaj me lilom
started playing. It was a trio which jammed an
passport and some money. I threw a glance at
muzikasa thaj ritmura von shaj te xasaren I
mange. O udar buxlo putardo. Losardom so saj
excellent selection of 'manele'. Considered
the door that was locked with a simple padlock.
chachutni muzika rromani. Manghe kampelas
si chordino. O laptopos, miri moxton vi lilencar,
'uneducated' and 'low quality' music by the
The padlock was gone, but there was otherwise
jekh rromani chachi banda rromani.
taj xanci lovorre sas kothe. Feri miri kamera ci
high-life, it is yet the most popular genre for
no sign of a break-in.
Dikhelem le Romeos, vov dikhelas mande
arakhleom. Ka o udar sas I phandatni ci dicholas
dancing parties among many of Romania’s
'You should have left your equipment and
inteal bareate. Vazdem I glaza taj cingardeom
ke sas pharavdo o udar. So te zanav te patav?
youth and it is most often played by Roma
luggage with us' said Romeo. 'Everything would
'Bahtaloo'. Vov pas xasandeas, jakhaca kerdas
'Trebulas te mukes tire kuci butea amende ka
singers and bands. One can still find the initial
have been safe there. I told you so many times.'
taj gelo tar.
o kher phendas o Romeo. Butvar vo mothodas
beats of the Roma traditional music in this
Things didn’t necessarily went smooth for me
Andi jekh sirdom te khelav le rromneancar.
mange'...
contemporary form of expression. The pianist
so far, but this was a real crisis. I needed to get
Alosardom o maj lacho ritmo te saj vi khelav
Ci gele vorta mire butea, tha kadea akana sas
let his fingers run down the keyboard of a
my camera back so I could continue my project.
lencar, sas shukar.
po but pharo. Akana musai te arakhav parpale
synthesizer with many different options, while
It was Friday night and I thought it was best to
Le rromnea sas uravde andi lungi taj but farbimen
miri kamera te saj agorinav muro projekto.
the bass player held the rhythm on the electric
announce the police first thing in the morning.
coxi modernura. Andi rromani tradicia naj
Kurko rati sas taj godisardom ke musi si te zav
guitar. The vocal sung with the microphone and
We parted and I got into bed. Thoughts were
the sound system's volume turned all the way
swirling around my head. The camera bag
up. Roma music seemed to be disappearing. At
contained valuable equipment; it was probably
that moment the public wanted disco music at
worth more than 20,000 kroner. That was a sad
weddings and home parties. Roma traditionals
affair. I crouched and finally fell asleep.
were swallowed up by the modern tunes. I was
Next day I went to the police. Romeo preferred
thinking all it was missing was a traditional
not to tag along. He didn’t want to get involved
Roma orchestra.
and he didn’t really believe the police could
I saw Romeo. He was looking at me from beyond
do much about it. I also had my doubts that
the fence. I raised my bottle and shouted
the situation could have been solved: the bag
'Bahtalo' over the background noise. He smiled,
was either well hidden or already far away
scanned the scene a bit more and then vanished.
from Quarry Street. To get something from
I suddenly found myself dancing with the
the insurance however, the theft had to be
Roma women and trying my best to find the
reported. Romeo explained to me how to get to
rhythm. It was quite pleasant. The women were
the nearest police station and I was on my way.
dressed in long, fancy dresses. According to
The policemen weren’t speaking English very
their tradition, Roma women don’t show their
well but I managed to explain to them what
knees to strangers. They whirled around me,
happened as clear as I could. They asked me
bumping their hips against mine, looking at me
to wait while they fetched an English-speaking
with seductive and merry eyes and then they
colleague. Some time went by before Marian
continued with their dancing. I sat down again.
arrived. He was the one who solved the case
I already have had some more beers and they
back when I was robbed behind the Black
started going to my head.
Church during my last trip.
Romeo came back. He winked and beckoned me
'You again!' he exclaimed with irritation at the
(śtar)
delas
duma
anglikani
kothe,
(panʒ)
57
English
8
Romani
sight of me.
houses weren’t even registered and lacked basic
tehara ke singale te phenav lenge. Dilearelas
kade bare gruposa. Sar von vakerde zorales le
'I’m sorry. I must be very naïve.'
sewage or running water. It was not uncommon
miri
kuci
ciorrenca o Romeo maj amboldas mange jekh
'You can only be naïve once. You’re an idiot. You
for ten or even twelve people to live in a single
ekipamentos po 20. 000 kronera. Rovipo avelas
cira. Ci zanenas le chores, tha sas len jekh
should have learned a lesson from the first time
room. Most houses were patched with plywood
man. Anda agor phares suteom. Dujto ges gelom
godi varekaste. Von phende savorenge ke me
you were robbed, that’s how things go around
and cardboard and had rusty tin roofs.
singalende, taj o Romeo ci avileas manca ke ci
avilom lache ileca taj dinem len savorre gaboran
here. I kept waiting for my day off and you just
Saturday night Romeo came over. He urged me
patalas ke vareso maj saj kerasa. Vi me ci patavas
photosura shukar. Dake zi ko mesmeri ci aresla
had to go and ruin it' he said, visibly peeved.
to go with him to a meeting with the elders. It
ke maj saj arakhava, vaj I kamera sas garvdi or
o Matei Gabor atunc von aven po 200 sela
Marian came to Quarry Street along with
was a sort of 'Crisis'. The elders were all getting
dur varekaj geli. Muro amal Romeo sikavdas
jene taj jag dena len taj avri choden savoren
another investigator and did a superficial job.
together to try and solve the problem.
mange o drom, thaj kothe le singale ci zanenas
rromneancar, vi chavorrencar. Phari buti avela.
They spoke briefly with Mihaela, the poor
We started walking towards one of his uncles.
mishto te vakeren anglikani chib. Phende mange
Pal sa kodea avileom pale ko kako, thaj vov
woman I was renting my room from. They looked
When I entered the room I saw about twenty
te zukerav zi kana andine jekhes savo zanelas I
phendas ke mishto avela. Andi rati sutom ko
around the room for a bit, but without spending
Gabors, all with wide-brimmed hats and large
chib. Nakhlo jekh kotor vrama, zi kana avilo o
Matei Gabor, kothe arakhloman sar lengro.
any time analyzing the door. They asked me to
moustaches. They were speaking in Romani
Marian savo maj vazdasas man jekhavar kana sas
Tehara khanci nevo, o aparato sas sar andi phuv
declare what the bag contained. Right before
between themselves and they were giving
mire lovore chorde.
nakhavdo. O Romeo maj zorarelas man, tha
departing, Marian took me aside and told me:
off the sensation that indeed things were
Ka, tu cingardas ruslo kana dikhlas man?
mange ci avelas te patav.
'What were you expecting in a place like this?
happening. We all left towards the poorest area
Iertisar saj ke me som cira bizanglo.
Tal I rati avile but gabora shaj ke sas jekh sel.
It’s well known that gypsies steal and cheat. Not
of the village. Again, I felt safe surrounded by
Bizanglo si te aves jekhvar, tha tu san chaches
Dumazinenas zorale. Anda jekh o vero Bondi
even the cabs come around here.'
all these Gabors who were having heated spats
Dilo. Trebulas te situves atunci kana sanas
thovda vast pi jekh terno savo patanas ke si o
It became obvious that I won’t receive much
with the poor. Romeo translated bits and pieces
chiordo, kade zan nasul le butea. Me zukerdom
chorr. Ispineles andi motora thaj zorales tradine
help from that direction.
of their conversations. They didn’t know who
kada shanto dives, thaj tu xasardan les mange
ke opre inkles o uchear andar Kariera. Le rrom
I spent the rest of the Saturday walking around
the thief was, but they did have a hunch. It was
phendas ruslo o Marian.
gele singalende. Jekh maskar le chor vakerdas le
quite depressed. What was I thinking, how
mentioned that I arrived with noble intentions;
Duj singale vakerde la gazeasa I ciori Mihaela kai
Mateica, ki daran te den parpale o chorimos te
could I believe myself safe in this hellhole?
I took many pictures that I shared for free with
me beslom, tha ci arakhle bari buti. Anglal te zal
na aven marde.
Besides the Gabor's, the Quarry Street was full
the Gabors and with everyone else. I had to have
o singalo puchlas man so sas andi moxton thaj
'Mukh te anel jekh chavorro o aparato,ki amen
of half-Roma guys who lost their traditions,
my equipment given back to me. Matei Gabor,
rigate phendas mange. So azukeres kana beses
ci maras le chavorren.'
were infested with lice and scabies and were
the chief, threatened the thief that if he wasn't
maskar kisave manus. Nic le vurdona taj taksi
Me phendem ke dava len 5 miljonura sar duj
dirt poor. You could also find there Russians
back before sunrise, they would return with
ci aven kathe. 'Baro vast ci astarva me kathar
chon pokin, sar norwegiska 1600 kr. 'Feri te saj
and Ukrainians who were hiding from one thing
more than two hundred other Gabors, drive
lende godisardom'…
lava parpale miri kamera.'
or another. The Romanians were the lowest of
away the women and children and set fire to
Pas dives phiravdem man xolariko, taj godisarvas
O Matei phendeas lenge lovendar, thaj o
the low. They lived together with the Roma,
the houses. The situation was getting tougher.
sar saj avilom me kadea malado. Avral rromende
chorroro nashleas maskar le caxri. O Bondi
which were hated by most Romanians. Most
After this episode we got back to the uncle’s
andi Kariera besen ververa nacje, zuvale gerale
astardas vorta le chores, thaj xakerdas pes ke
house. They kept saying that everything would
thaj bi khanci tradicia. Le rumunea khetanes
musai te anel I kamera anglal inklol o kham.
get solved. That night I slept in Matei Gabor’s
besen rromencar tha kadala si le maj telutne,
Nevo dives tha khanci kerdo. Dem duma Xanci e
house and felt part of the clan.
save ci si le dikhle andi societate. Naj len lila
Romeosa adventisto. 'Tiro Dad kampel te kerel
Dawn brought no new developments. The
pi kherende, naj paj, von besen des, po desuduj
vareso, me som andi lesqi protekcia.'
camera bag seems to have vanished off the face
andi jekh kher savi si kerdo andar puranipe,
O Mateisqo Dad sas o bulibaso lengo thaj vov
of the Earth. Romeo was comforting me, telling
papirurea, etk. Andi jekh rati savatosqi o Romeo
kampelas te tradel angle I tradicja. Tha daqe
me everything wouldl be fine, but I was very
avilo mande kaj te zas ke le phurenqi kriss, von
akana si adventisto, vo mukhlas I tradicja.
much doubting this.
zumaven te arakhen miri kamera.
O Romeo promisardas ke dela duma vorta e
Towards the evening a large group of Gabors
Gelem ko jekhto kako le Romeosqo. Othe
dadesa.
arrived, well over one hundred men. Tense
andre zukernas bis jene, stadeancar buxle, thai
Andi rati maladilom e Romeosa savo mothovdas
conversations ensued again. That was when
lunghi mustaca. Von vakerenas feri rromanes.
mange:
Bondi, one of Matei’s cousins, grabbed one of
Pal kodea teleardam karing o than kaj besenas
Dem but duma dadesa thaj kovleardom les,
the suspects, a youngster. He pushed him in his
le maj ciorre rroma. Arakhloman pakhiando
sostar vo xasardas pesqi zor, thaj me akana
(śov)
godimata,
andi
moxtonorri
sas
(efta)
9
English
Romani
car and they left Quarry Street with the tires
let out a sigh of relief. Matei Gabor caught the
xasardom miri pakiv vasa lesqe. Opre vazdinem
Semas po drom te telarav andar Brasovo.
screeching and raising a cloud of dust. They
thief during the night and they beat him until
lesqi kamimnata. 'Opre te marel Muro Dad si
Nakhlom andi Traiano piazo, thaj dinem ko
left for the police. One of the poor youngsters
the equipment was returned. I still had to pay
jekh zoralo thaj dikhlo.'
Matei do pas le love kaj vo pokindas ka singale.
has spoken with Matei, Romeo translated. They
the five million I promised, but that was an
Promisardas pesqe chavesqe ki kerela sa so
O Bondi vi vo manglas te ovel pokimen ke
didn’t dare return the bag, they were afraid of
insignificant fraction of the equipment’s real
shajnel. Inke jekh rati bute godimnencar pal
vazdas te marel chores. Phendem lesqe ke som
being beaten.
value. Matei was reported to the police for the
miri dilimata. Tha vareso barolas anda mande.
choro phanglo tha ci mai si man kanci. Kada sas
'Send a child with the bag. We would never beat
aggression. After he was interrogated, he was
Tehara ci avilas mange te patav sas chaches,
o cacimos.
children' Matei said indignantly.
fined a million lei.
miri kamera andinela parpale khanci bajo vorta,
Sa e butea kathar, ambolden, isalon. Vas
'Tell them I’ll give them five million lei (about
'This whole police story won’t end like this',
sasti. Sare sa ko than feri xurde euro...
lovende. Sas maj kuci te besav andi Kariera sar
two months’ worth of pay) so I can get my
they said.
Phurdinom lokeardo.
ki jekh barvalo hotelo, tha me barvalindom mire
equipment back.'
We were on our way out of Brașov. We passed
Matei Gabor astardas le chores andi rati.
zanglimati thaj miri paramisa.
Matei told them about the money. The poor guy
through Traian Square and I gave Matei Gabor
Mardeles zi kana pale andeas I kamera. Sa
Kadea ke ci sas po kuci...
disappeared among the shacks where they were
half a million for the fine. Bondi arrived and
musai te dav kodola love kaj phendom, tha
living. Bondi grabbed some guy who wasn’t
now he also wanted a million for helping with
khanci sas kodola vas miri kamera. O Matei sa
directly involved and now things started moving
the beating of the thief. I told him I was out
dino ka o singale vas ke mardeas le chores, thaj
again. After a while, it was decided that the
of money and that was the truth. Everything
sas te pokinel jekh miljonos. 'Kadea singalencar
equipment would be returned before sunrise.
revolved around money here. It proved more
paramica ci achola hadea phende von.'
A new day arrived and still no developments. I
expensive to stay on Quarry Street than in a
spoke briefly to Romeo, a Seventh Day Adventist.
luxury hotel, but the stories and acquiantances
'There must be something your father can
I earned while living under their roof more than
do about this. In the end, they’re under his
made up for the price difference.
Harald with the Gabor family after 10 years
protection.' Matei inherited his name from his dad who was the Bulibasha, the leader of the clan. Matei was supposed to follow in his footsteps, but he converted to Seventh Day Adventism and turned his back to some of the Roma traditions. Romeo was desperate and promised to speak with his dad. In the evening I met with Romeo again who recounted his interaction: 'I humiliated my dad a bit, told him he lost his power and that I started losing my respect for him. That stirred him right up. He’s a strong and proud man.' He promised Romeo to do whatever was in his power. Another night filled with thoughts of my own stupidity came and went, but the hope of solving this mess started to take hold in my mind. Miraculously, the next morning I got my bag back, with all the equipment intact. I looked inside. Everything was there, except for a few Euro coins which were now in a side-pocket. I
10 (oxto)
(enӑ)
11 9
8th of April, a day of celebration
Gelem, gelem Tore-Jarl Bielenberg
Fighting with guns becomes fighting through
ceremony, the new anthem was played.
music
The initial title of the national anthem was 'Opre, Roma', meaning 'Rise, Roma'. He explained
When peace finally came, Žarko started a
that the title was not meant as an instigation
musical career, playing a few instruments but,
to rebellion, but as a call to rise from centuries
above all, mastering a special instrument called
of oppression and persecution, and as a call for
'mingala' with which he travelled the whole
a human way of life. The song is best known
world and played both in famous concert halls
as 'Gelem, gelem', 'We walk, we walk', these
as well as in dingy cafes and clubs. In the end,
being the first lyrics. The text mentions what
Paris became his stable point in life. Žarko used
happened to the Roma during the Second World
music to lead forward the Roma struggle.
War, by the hands of Nazi legions: 'I also had a
The London Congress of 1971 became a turning
large family, killed by the Black Legions'. Then comes the dream: 'Come with me, Roma
8th of April 1971 became a historic date. For the
wheel on its flag). Today, Roma flags wave all
from around the world! Because the roads have
first time after the Second World War, the Roma
over the planet.
opened up for Roma. Time has come, travel
from the East and the Roma from the West
now, Roma! We'll get far if we start acting!'
met for a worldwide conference in London. The war, which claimed at least half a million
Activist until the end
lives of Roma in concentration camps, on the
Until he passed away in 1985, Žarko Jovanovich
battle front and in villages, carried on. Most of
had a long musical career and was a tireless
the Roma leaders disappeared, althought large
activist. He also took part in the second
cities still refused to admit the destruction.
International Roma Congress in Geneva, where
Finally, Roma across the globe had started to
he was named Minister of Culture within the
wake up, even though the wounds were not yet
International Roma Union. His text spread all
healed. And here, in London, they all found a
over the world and the tradition of his music is
shared voice for the first time.
being carried on by his oldest son, Petro, and his two nephews, Nikak and Aleco.
The National Day of Roma 8th of April 1971 marked the beginning of an international fight for recognition, joy and
The national anthem - 'Gelem, gelem'
justice. It was a big step against centuries of
We should consider the fact that although the
discrimination and persecution, even slavery.
national anthem, 'Gelem, gelem' is being sung
Enough! Stop this! To mark this victory, 8th of
across the world every year on the 8th of April,
April became the National Day of Roma and is
not many people know about the author of the
now being celebrated around the world. It is
text. This was Žarko Jovanovich, also known as
both a day of celebration, and a day of struggle.
Jagdino, an intense and enthusiastic character. Zarko was born in 1925 on the outskirts of
The flag
Belgrade. He was barely a teenager when the
The event also called for a flag. Before the war,
Second World War reached Yugoslavia. Before
some Roma from the Balkans used a war flag
he was captured, he joined the partisants.
with a lower green field representing the Earth
Žarko survived three concentration camps and
and a higher blue field symbolizing the sky.
managed to escape and join once again the
The final version was added a new element, the
resistance army. While he was imprisoned, he
red wheel, which represents the long journey
thought up the idea that was to become the text
of the Roma and the place where it began more
for the Roma national anthem.
than 1000 years ago - India (which also has a
12 (deś)
Žarko Jovanovic The London Congress of 1971 became a turning point in his life and career. He was one of the three yugoslavian delegates and he won the contest for choosing the Roma anthem. The origin of the song is now unknown, but Žarko gave it his own interpretation. That was the starting point of many international versions of the song, and the text was translated in many Roma dialects. Žarko played a central role in the London negociations and he was named Secretary for Cultural Affairs. I worked together with him as co-responsable for the cultural program and also for the festival taking place within the Congress. During the closing
Project Shukar receives support from the Norwegian organisation Fritt Ord, Free Word (deśujekh)
13
I went, I went = Gelem, Gelem
Roma Anthem English
Romani
I went, I went on long roads
Gelem, gelem lungone dromentza,
I met happy Roma
Maladilem bahtale rromentza.
O Roma where do you come from?
A, rromale, kotar tumen aven
With tents on happy roads?
E tzahrentza, bokhale ciaventza?
I once had a great family, The Black Legions murdered them
Sasa vi man bari familia,
Come with me Roma from all the world
Mudardias la i kali legia.
For the Roma, roads have opened
Saren cindias vi rromen vi rromnien,
Now is the time, rise up Roma now,
Mashkar lende vi tzikne ciavoren.
We will rise high if we act. Open, God, black doors
Putar, Devla, te kale udara
So I can see where are my people.
Te shai dikhau miri familia.
Come back to tour the roads
Palem ka jau lungone dromentza,
And walk with happy Roma.
Ta ka phirau bahtale rromentza.
Up, Romani people! Now is the time
Opre rroma, isi vaht akana,
Come with me, Roma from all the world
Aide mantza sa lumiake rroma!
Dark face and dark eyes,
O kalo mui ta e kale iakha
I want them like dark grapes.
Kamaua len sar e kale drakha.
Illustration by Irlo
14 (deśuduj)
(deśutrin)
15
Urban beekeepers
Gică from Văcărești Text by Alexandru Tîlvîc / Photographs by Harald Medbøe www.parculnaturalvacaresti.ro
Gică is a free spirit who moved his whole life from the city to the nature, but still within an urban space. He built an improvised hut in the middle of a forgotten artificial lake, he took his wife, flooded a path and created his own artificial island. Nine children were born who lived there for 18 years. They grew up with all the imagination and joy that are needed in life and they learned how to live well, being conscious of one's needs and limitations. They inevitably got attached to the land and by sustaining the love they shared, they managed to survive.
14 14 16 (deśuśtar)
(deśupanʒ)
17
The empathy they exhuded, without necessarily asking for anything in return, took them out of their 'comfort zone' a few years ago, when they were helped to move out of the delta and into an apartment. An illness which had troubled Gică for some time forced him to move, together with his family, into an apartments building. It was hard for him to accept this, but he had to.
16 18 (deśuśov)
(deśuefta)
19
He did, however, leave all the memories of his children there. All the hiding places and the spots they explored together and knew better than anyone else, but also a few honeyhives that are now being looked after by Vali, the eldest son.
18 20 (deśoxto)
(deśuenӑ) 21 19
He goes there often, even in the winter months when he doesn't have to use the boat anymore and instead skates on ice. Last year's honey season was a little unlucky because the honey the bees had gathered for the winter was all eaten by ants. That happened after some visitors, apparently illegal fishermen, tried to steal the beehive frames. The defensive attack of the bees surprised them and so the honey ended up on the ground, food for the ants. There are only a few beehives with mixed flowers honey left, which serve as proof that around the lake there are plenty of useful flowers.
20 22 (biĹ›)
(biśujekh) 23 21
Roma - from slavery to dignity Ciprian Necula The slavery has left a deep and hard to erase mark
that Ceaușescu did so much harm to the country
in the collective memory of the Roma people, a
that he couldn't have been anything but a gypsy'
constant feeling of inferiority and submission
(Olivera, 2012, p.87)
even among those who have succeeded financially or socially in our present times. They have been
At the same time, the gypsy status - vulnerable,
inferior de facto for five centuries, during one of
lacking resources, dependent on public mercy,
the longest slaveries in history, without a single
unqualified,
historically recorded riot.
excuse for some Roma to accept these labels in
As a matter of fact, the term 'gypsy' was used to
exchange for some protection from the authorities
designate the social status of the slaves, regardless
(Gheorghe, 2012). Thus, this status was internalized
of their ethnic origin (Roma weren't the only slaves
over the years, individually and as a group, and
in Moldova and Vallachia, other ethnic groups being
became dominant in the individuals' view of
also enslaved, including dominant ones). From
themselves, socially and not ethnically (as claimed
outside, in terms of the public policies regarding
by Delia Grigore, 2007).
them, Roma have been seen as a problematic,
Seen from this viewpoint, until the Roma won't
enigmatic, delinquent and uncontrollable social
regain their human dignity, they won't be able to
group. In Romania, the Roma groups have been
break through the invisible plateau of the slave
initially seen as groups of slaves. The term 'gypsy'
status. Sure, the question arises: how can the Roma
('țigan' in Romanian, n.r.) was basically just the
achieve this? How can a people held in the chains
name of the social group of slaves, until the middle
of inferiority - that has hung so heavy until they left
of the 19th century (Gheorghe, 1990; Matei, 2012,
visible marks in every Roma - become a respected
p.27). Actually, the traditional meaning of 'gypsy'
group, so that the Roma will be seen as equal people
doesn't necessarily refer to a specific ethnic group,
de facto?
uneducated,
etc.,
served
as
an
but to any group that exhibits a behaviour that is outside the rules, pointing most often towards a
The answer to this question was providede since
deviant behaviour.
1930, by the social and political structures of Roma as a nation promoting its own values and
'After the Revolution of 1989, the Romanians called
culture. When I say nation I want you to think
Ceaușescu a 'gypsy', although they didn't mean
beyond the nation-state definition that emerged
that he was literally the son of a gypsy family,
in the 19th century, a historical moment the Roma
originating from a certain area etc. In other words,
people missed, as argued by the sociologist and
they weren't using this term to refer to an aspect
the founder of the Roma movement in Romania,
of his personal identity, but instead they meant
Nicolae Gheorghe.
24 (biśuduj)
The Roma people and the Romanian centenary
forgetting about the biggest issue facing these
The Roma are the ones that need to start the fight
people: racism.
against what is holding them captives in a vicious
The
cycle of social exclusion, and fight in order to
conceptualized
correct the historical humiliation they've been
above all, the solidarity of all the Roma in fighting
subjected to institutionally. This is only possible if
racism, the phenomenon that is still blocking
the Roma organize themselves and build a public
the development of Roma communities. The evil
image that they control, to replace the one built
must be identified and fought against accordingly,
on prejudices and stereotypes. Roma need to show
passing over another phenomenon so common in
their contributions to the states they lived in, they
the Roma communities, that is the normalization
need to show what positive roles they played
of the evil and subsequently seeing injustice as
in the social, economic, cultural and political
being normal. The Roma must rise against social
development of the societies they live in.
injustice in order to achieve such an ample social
And what better opportunity for such a project
project. AT the same time, the Roma must have
in our country than Romania's centenary, which
the courage to fight what is wrong inside their
the Roma should celebrate by showing their
communities (such as early or forced marriages,
contribution to the founding of this state. Let's talk
child exploitation, etc.)
about the Roma gatherings in 1919 in Transylvania,
The social Roma movement and its activists must
during which they showed their solidarity and
assume this project openly and, step by step,
loyalty towards Romania; let's talk about the Roma
they must give up their role as social workers
crafts that are so vital to the rural economy of
because this is underlining the lack of power of
Romania; let's talk about the Roma that fought on
the Romanian government itself. The Roma people
the battlefields during both world wars; let's talk
need more than anything their dignity, because
about the Roma intellectuals; let us talk about
unless a historical reconciliation takes place, their
everything we have to offer humanity, without
long term projects could not succeed.
transnational by
Roma Nicolae
community Gheorghe
as
needs,
(biśutrin)
25
'Aren’t you the guy who played in that movie?'
Diguday Interview by Diana Pascu / Photographs by Harald Medbøe
An interview with Vasile Pavel, AKA Diguday, leading actor in the movie 'Soldiers. Story from
I have a friend who is exactly what you're
Ferentari', the love story of a gay couple set in
looking for: with muscles, abs, tattooes'.
Ferentari, one of the Roma neighbourhood of
And he said, let us all meet in Peasant's
Bucharest.
Museum. There I met Ivana and Adi for the first time. They took pictures of both of us,
They were looking for a well-built guy, with
me and my friend, and they asked us if we
muscles, with everything…
want to come for a casting in a week. We
R:
How did you find out about the role of
said yes and after some days we went... I
Alberto, whom you play in the movie
can't remember what they asked us to read.
'Soldiers'?
And Ivana said 'You must play the lead role
D: At first I called a friend, George Vasilescu,
- Alberto'. I told her, 'Hey, I don't have the
the painter who also does tattooes, and I
necessary training for the main role - if you
asked him if he could draw for me the name
want me to show up in a few scenes, alright'.
of my daughter on my arm. We've known
In the end, I spoke to George some more,
each other since childhood. And he said,
they also told me about the pay so in the
'Sure, Diguday, whenever you pass through
end I took the part. Ivana was very happy
Bucharest, it would be my pleasure'. Two
and we started to work.
days later, he was the one calling and asking
R:
inspiration for the character of Alberto?
me if I wanted to play in a movie. R:
How come they thought of you, have you
Did you ever meet the guy that served as
D: I met the original Alberto, yes, during filming. Adi showed him to me, I think we
ever been in movies before? D: No, but from what they had told Ivana
were somewhere at a bar near the train
(Mladenovic, the screenwriter, n.r.) and Adi
station and Adi showed him to me, he
(Șchiop, writer and lead actor, n.r.), I guess
pointed: 'Look, that's Alberto!'.
they were looking for a well-built guy, with
26 (biśuśtar) 24
muscles, with everything... I used to play
The woman, if she bangs someone else, it's
sports and I looked alright: arms, abs... I
shameful for the man
was a boxer. And I hadn't seen Georgel,
D: The hardest part was playing the scenes,
the painter, in over 10 years. I told him on
anyway, there were some scenes... it was
the phone: 'I'm not what you used to know,
very hard for me to get over them. Not hard,
I grew up, I have a belly, I gained weight.
very hard.
From 70 kilograms I went up to 110 now!
R:
Name one.
I'm not the same guy you used to know but
D: I had to take Adi into my arms... the hardest
(biśupanʒ)
27
scene was the one in the bathtub, he was
people stopped me in the streets, on the
tell there's no malice in these words, you
How did you learn, from your childhood?
beach, they came to me and congratulated
accept them differently.
washing my back and we were both butt
R:
naked. That was the hardest for me. I never
D: Yes, I am born and raised in the slum, both
had any homosexual experiences. R:
you are automatically respected.
me...
my parents are gypsies.
R:
What clan are your parents originally from?
D: No. When I was young, all I thought about
How is homosexuality perceived in Roma
R:
communities?
D: We are the Beartamers ('Ursari').
D: Very badly, very badly. In slums, I think in
R:
Have you always been interested in acting?
For example, I noticed you use the term 'gypsy'.
D: Yes, I personally don't mind at all.
was fighting. I was a naughty kid. My talent
R:
How is it in Romani?
was to fight with friends for money - 3 lei,
D: Roma.
all slums across the world, gypsies have a
'When I was young, all I thought about was
5 lei - we fought and whoever won took
R:
kind of pride about these things. Even the
fighting'
the money. We organized matches among
D: Yes, yes! Look, I don't care if someone calls
Where does the title 'Soldiers' come from?
ourselves - we used to gather in groups of
me 'roma' or 'gypsy'. I don't mind at all.
7-10 boys.
Before, when I was at school, I used to mind
women, if she bangs someone else, it's
R:
shameful for the man. He loses status. If
D: I don't know why they called it 'Soldiers'. I
a girl makes mistakes with a second man,
guess I had one scene in the movie with two
she embarrasses the family. With men it's
dogs, I'm playing with them in the yard and
different - you know the saying, the man
I call these dogs 'soldiers'. But I don't know
picks up his hat, he dusts it off and... it's
where the title's coming from, Ivana must
more acceptable. It shouldn't be a long
know.
So then, that's the right term.
it. I went to school until the 8th grade and I had to speak more like myself, more slang
when we were kids, I had Romanian mates.
Have you ever received negative reactions
And when the parents came to pick up their
towards the character you play in th movie?
kids, we were all playing in the schoolyard.
D: No, never, since they've released the movie,
And I used to hear: 'I told you not to play
Have you ever been recognized in the
no one has ever said anything bad - on the
with gypsies' etc. I felt rejected, like an
street?
contrary, everyone congratulated me. My
orphan - I felt bad. I didn't understand why
D: Yes, yes. Both in San Sebastian and in
mates from the neighbourhood, on the
and one day I asked these friends of mine,
feel good, but family is family.
Bucharest - after the movie was released
other hand, sometimes comment on the
'why won't your mum let you play with me,
Did you ever live in Ferentari?
in Bucharest, while I was on the train on
movie: 'you arse, you arsefucker...', do you
she says I am gypsy?'. 'Well, apparently you
D: I stayed a little in Ferentari, one or two
my way back home, I was with my son
get it? Friendly banter, said without hatred.
steal babies, you are evil'. I thought about it
months. For me it's not something unusual
and two ladies told me, 'hello, hello, are
I mean, I meet friends and they say, 'what
and concluded that's not true! I have a very
because I am used to gypsies. If I meet a
you the guy who played in that movie?'.
the fuck have you been doing, you fucker?'
good friend who knows the whole history
gypsy in, let's say, France or Germany, we
It's a very beautiful feeling and something
and we don't get mad at each other, we've
of the gypsy people, how they migrated.
show each other respect. If you speak gypsy
unforgettable. Especially in San Sebastian,
been having this sort of jokes since we were
You know, with the slavery. The Romanians
kids.
was the first to burn the gypsy. Why should
Have you ever played in movies before?
the gypsies take this lying down? Generally,
D: It was my first experience shooting a movie
gypsies are revengeful. A gypsy never forgets
- I got a lot of assistance from Ivana and
anything, especially when you mess with
Adi, while we were rehearsing. There were
his family. For gypsies, fame and glory are
good and bad moments. There were some
important. He wants his gypsy neighbours
words I couldn't pronounce: they didn't
to see that he has the largest house, the
want to come out! They weren't my kind
coolest car, the biggest fortune, the best
of words. I had to speak in my own tongue,
looking woman. A gypsy, so to say, if he's
more slang. Often I would tell Adi and Ivana,
a millionaire in euros and he takes a wife
'hey, I can't, I can't say these words!'. You
who is at her second , third man, so she's
could tell they were forced, I wouldn't use
not a maiden, she's not a virgin, he has no
them naturally. But I don't have any future
value in the community, in the slum. If the
plans, you can imagine - I went back to my
boy is poor, the gypsy, but he takes a lady,
old type of work. If I'll get another offer, I'll
a maiden, he is valuable to the community
accept gladly.
and respected by the others.
term relationship, he shouldn't fall in love, he shouldn't keep two families at the same time. You go somewhere, do your business, R:
R:
R:
R:
R: For gypsies, fame and glory are important R:
26 28 (biśuśov)
What's the correct term, Roma or Gypsy?
Somehow, honour is more important than money.
D: Honour is the most valuable. If someone in
D: Someone, when he's angry and he calls
the family makes a mistake, everybody loses
another one: 'look at this gypsy', you can
status. When there's an argument in the
(biśuefta)
29
R:
community, the others can say: 'get out of
see him showing off and not being decent,
here, man, that guy or the other did this and
the Romanians call him a 'cocalar'. I don't
that with your wife or your sister...'
know what they used to do, the 'cocalari'
A society with strict rules. Can you break
- I know that the 'ursari' used to deal with
those rules?
bears, this friend of mine told me. I don't
D: There are some gypsies like this who, when
really know the history of the gypsy people.
they can't stand it anymore, they take all
If you want to know when was the last time
their things and leave... they just can't get
that the 'ursar' clan had bears, this you can
used to the idea that they have to respect
maybe find out from my mum, my dad. I'll
certain rules in the slum.
call this friend of mine later, 'come on, chief, come and tell us some things', I'll tell him.
R:
Whoever starts another argument leaves the
R:
slum
D: How it is for us? For the 'ursari', the 'bulibașa'
You often mention 'dirty women'. How much freedom do Roma women have?
What’s the deal with the 'bulibașa'? is...
R:
Only for 'ursari'?
D: We have this kind of women in the
D: See, every 'gypsy' clan has a tradition. They
community, loose, but of course nobody
are all different. There are many clans:
respects them, not even little kids. There
'zavragii', 'cocalari', 'lingurari', 'căldărari',
are women who live with other women. Or
'spoitori'... according to their former trade,
women who like to leave the home, they go
there are many clans. And each of them has
around with one man, then the second, the
a dialect and different customs. With us,
third... that's what they like.
the 'ursari', if we have an argument with
And are these women accepted?
someone in the community, we start a fight
R:
D: Yes, we cannot judge them. But we don't R:
respect them, either.
'he was right', 'no, the other was right'. Then
How does that work?
it goes, 'okay, let's organize a judgement'. And we call the most noble characters in
the same table as you, I don't go anywhere
the slum, like the elders and those who have
with you, I don't talk to you. That's the
never had any dodgy events in their family:
treatment.
no loose women, no thieves who steal, no
And who do these people hang out with?
problems with the police... honest gypsies.
D: With people like them, people who make
Honest folk who grew up, themselves and
mistakes... For example, if we sit and drink
their children, only through work and labor.
a jar together, and I know you are a good
We call two, three honest gypsies like this
person, it's an honour to drink with these
and we tell them, 'look, he did this, he did
kind of people. If a faggot, so to say, comes
that'. Now, the gypsies decide. We don't use
here, we wouldn't share the table with him.
payments - in other communities, they use
But he wouldn't have the guts to join us.
payment. Man, you were in the wrong, you
Where does the term 'bulangiu' come from?
have to pay this much. In our case, there's
R:
D: From R:
'bulan'.
They
have
anal
sex.
In
the following deal: guys, shake hands and
Romanian, 'bulan'.
end the argument. Whoever starts another
You said, for example, that one the Roma
argument leaves the slum. So we kick him
clans is called 'cocalar'. We used to say this
out.
word as an insult, when we were kids. D: Yes, well, someone can be an 'ursar' (beartamer – n.t.) like myself, and when you
30 (biśoxto)
R:
You are allowed one mistake.
D: Yes. And you make a promise, I pay with my neck if I make another mistake.
You mentioned there are many dialects, but is there an international version of Romani?
D: Honestly,
I
don't
international
know
if
language.
there's
Look,
an with
Bulgarian gypsies I get along very well. I had
and then we ask, 'who was right?'. They say,
D: It means I don't deal with you. I don't sit at
R:
R:
a Bulgarian friend and I spoke with him in Romani. The Serbs also have similar words to ours, and Indians I think also have some words in Romani. R:
Baksheesh, for example.
D: 'Efta', 'ohto', 'enia' is seven, eight, nine in Romani... and it's the same in Greek. For ten we say 'des', and greeks use 'deca', for example. R:
Where does the name Diguday come from?
D: My
sister
called
me
Diguday.
In
the
countryside, where I'm from, from Băltești, at my mother's parents, there was in the village a gypsy called Diguday. And this guy got drunk all the time and beat people up. And if all I thought about was fighting, boxing, I went to the park for four, five hours everyday, I used to run, do the splits, I fought with other kids for money, I used to break people's windows, I used to cut up footballs... and other things. So, my sister called me after him. Diguday.
(biśuenӑ)
31
One thing is certain for us, if we pray to
Devla = God
'Devla' we are at peace and we know that all will be fine, and that's why we don't hesitate in our lives. Even when we go through a tragedy, we call God, somehow blaming it on Him, but without really accusing Him and acknowledging our own faults or sins. Then we use to say ‘Devla, Devla so kerdom?’– 'God, God, what did I
Text by Tudor Lakatos
do?'. And finally we say 'Kadea kamlan o Svunto Del' – 'That was God’s will'. In the Roma culture, the curses are also linked to God through the word Devla, with
The Roma have always been a free people, but they always had the Almighty - 'Del' or God - 'Devla'
formulas such as 'May God protect the
in their souls. Even though they never had a country, the Roma travelled with their soul and their
cursed one!'. We use to say 'Devla mar le
consciousness in God, adopting the host country's religion. Although the majority started harassing
gazen sar marde vor le Romeni' – 'God, beat
and blaming them for being heretics, criminals, magicians and so on, they followed their own laws
up the Gadjos ('Gagii') like they did us' – in
and continued to believe in God.
this case this is a reference not only to the non-Roma majority, but to our suffering
Thousands of years ago, when they were living happily in Rajasthan, the Roma were chased out of
during slavery and extermination times.
their land by the Muslims and they ran away all over the world. They were being ruled by an emperor called, back in those days, 'Maramenqo Dev', which in modern Romani is 'Amaro Del' and it means the
The wedding (marriage) is blessed using
same thing: 'Our Almighty'. 'Del' means Almighty, 'Devla' means God and 'Devel' means Heaven.
the expression 'Devla loshaniar tai inker khetanes kadale termeni!' - 'God, give
'O Svunto Del andar o Devel' = 'Holy Almighty from the Heavens'
this young joy and keep them together!', which is actually an accomplished deed
Often we hear Roma people saying 'O Svunto Del andar o Devel' – ‘Holy Almighty’ or 'Devla, Devla'
because the Roma couples don’t break up as often as other nations, Roma families being united and
- 'God, God'. The Roma never had and still don't have a land of their own, but they always had God,
numerous. For us, family comes first. This is why the Roma anthem mentions the family even if that is
in whom they believed and who helped them during difficult times, whichever country they were
by recollecting that they were burned alive and we ask God to open the black gates so that we could
in. Only thanks to Him we are still alive. Of course the word 'Devla', Almighty, sounds a little strange
see the parted again.
because it is very similar to the word devil, which means the opposite. I will give you some very important examples, often found in Romani: 'Devla vazde' - God bless; 'Sov
'Putar Devla tre kale udara, te saj dikhav mirri familia'
Devlesa', sleep with God (instead of simply good night); 'Ach Devlesa' – ‘Stay with God; 'Ja Devlesa' –
With the baptism, the little child receives the blessing of God from the family and the Godparents
‘Go with God’.
with the formula 'Devla feril kadale cinores nasulimastar, Devla ker loshali leqi zivimatai' - 'God, save this little one of evil and make his life happy'.
All these expressions come from the heart and they are representative for the lives of Roma who only wish for everything to be alright. We don't use the Romanian words because in this particular case
Of course many other people believe and pray to God, maybe sometimes showing this off too much
they sound a little artificial to us. We use the word 'Devla' not because we are part of some sect, or to
because that is required by their religion or just because they really fear God. For the common Roma,
make an impression, but just because that's how we feel.
poor or richer, it is enough to say 'Help me God and protect my family from evil!' This is said every day and we don’t forget to thank God.
'Dev' or 'Devi' in Hindi, is the word that defines an emperor, god or goddess, while for us 'Devla' is God Almighty. The Roma are not used to bowing to fake idols or statues.
'Nays tuque Devla' Illustrations by Irlo
32 (trindeśa)
(trindeśa aj jekh)
33
Mihaela Drăgan Interview by Diana Pascu Mihaela Drăgan (born 1986) is a Roma actress
and positive towards the shows I act in. In
and screenwriter who lives in Bucharest,
Berlin there's more ignorance regarding
Romania. Her shows focus on the relationship
Roma, while in Romania Roma are probably
between theatre, Roma identity and social
more visible and people know more about us.
issues. In 2014, Mihaela together with other
Despite this, after our shows, the Romanian
Roma actresses started the theatre company
public tell us they have never interacted
Giuvlipen. In 2015 she played in the film Aferim!,
with Roma and so everything they know
by Radu Jude, which won the Silver Bear at the
about us is based on prejudice. I realised
Berlin International Film Festival. Presently,
that we don't really communicate and this
she is nominated for the Gilder/Coigney
would be the role of a Roma theatre, beyond
International Theatre Award in New York.
the artistic one: creating a context within which the majority can meet the Roma, deal with their prejudices and become educated
I think acting has something to do with magic R:
about who we truly are.
You lived in Cluj, Constanța, Bucharest and Berlin. How do each of these cities
When I was 5 years old, I knew I was going to
respond to alternative shows that deal with
controversial
topics
(minorities,
LGBT, feminism, Roma)? Is there a different approach in Bucharest compared to Berlin, for example? M: In Berlin they've been doing political theatre for longer, so the public is more used to such shows. Topics such as feminism and LGBT are not new in Berlin's cultural environment, but shows about Roma are still at the beginning, even though there is a large Sinti community in Germany that has been living there for centuries, or other Roma communities originally from Eastern Europe. Like everywhere in the world, Roma are the last to benefit from cultural representation at an institutional level. Both in Berlin and Bucharest, attitudes are mostly enthusiastic
34 (trindeśa aj duj)
be an actress R:
When did you know you are going to become an actress and playwright?
M: I wanted to be both since I was a child, sometimes alternating between the two: I was giving up on acting in order to become a writer and vice versa. I think calling myself a writer is a bit much, since I started writing plays due to the lack of literary works that deal with Roma issues or Roma history in Romania. I like writing for the theatre but, since it's not my main field, the process is always clumsy, I am certain it takes me longer than it would take a professional. I have also been acting a lot during in last 2 years so it's hard to gather myself and find time to write.
(trindeśa aj trin)
35 33
But to answer your question, I knew I was
other women are bullied and hit. From
personal attacks. I have always told them:
playing the role so as to create empowerment
going to become an actress when I was 5
what they heard about us, they concluded
'you'd better use this energy for a greater
for herself and other Roma women. This is
years old. When I was 5, I went with my
that gender violence is prevalent here. I felt
cause, such as the struggle against racism
what we aimed for at Giuvlipen, to present
mother and grandmother to Bucharest,
embarrassed but I didn't contradict them
towards Roma, instead of trying to destroy
alternatives for Roma actors and actresses
at the emergency hospital near the train
because we all know that's how it is.
and discredit one another'. We at Giuvlipen
and to create new representations for our
station, to have surgery for tonsillitis and
I didn't learn to play an instrument because
also had to deal with personal attacks from
communities, different from those found in
polyps. This was the most daring adventure
I was a girl and Roma families don't like to
various Roma artists and activists. Most of
society or in the racist public discourse.
of my childhood. I was kept in the hospital
expose their girls to rowdy environments
the attacks stem from envy because they
for a week and everyday I performed a show
such as parties. However, I have to admit I
are afraid that a group of Roma feminist
in the ward, with women in the hospital as
never had any special musical talents. I've
artists might have a stronger voice than
at the same time, about shows organised in
my audience. Every evening after dinner,
always been a geeky person, music was
them, which threatens their role as Roma
rural and suburban communities. Have you
my bed turned into my stage and my bed
meant for those who didn't do too well in
representatives. Although their abuses and
ever thought about a travelling theatre that
sheets became an elegant dress. Then
school and they needed an alternative way
lack of solidarity often consumed us, we
puts on educational shows?
the magic happened. I sang, I told jokes, I
of making money.
decided not to listen to them anymore. The
M: We thought about a travelling theatre that
solidarity between ourselves and the Roma
would bring plays to peripheral communities
There are often conflicts between various
communities with which we work, as well as
that don't have direct access to culture, but
the end I was given sweets and chocolate. I
Roma artists, activists and scholars. What
the friendships we share with international
we also thought of a public institution with
later discovered that this magical game that
can you say about the lack of cohesion in
Roma feminists are more important to us.
the headquarters in Bucharest. We need
allowed me to become someone else was
the Roma community? Besides prejudices
Besides Giuvlipen, we are organising forum
a physical space for our theatre and we
called acting. I thought nothing is better in
that come from outside the community, are
theatre in many Roma communities across
need to be represented at an institutional
life than to be appreciated and to receive
there also internal conflicts?
the country. In these Roma communities
level. Any other alternative would be a
we often feel a kinship and a joy at being
compromise. The Romanian government
impersonated the women around me and the audience laughed and applauded. At
R:
R:
You talk about starting a Roma Theatre and,
chocolate, so I decided to do this all my
M: Like in all social and political movements,
life. To this day, I still believe acting has
the Roma movement is also plagued by
together, united.
needs to take responsibility towards its
something to do with magic.
various conflicts, individual ambitions and
After all, Giuvlipen created a Roma cultural
Roma minority.
movement in Romania that was missing Violence against women is not directly linked
from the local arena. Art, as long as it's
to education, ethnic group or social class
authentic, has a stronger voice than any one person or group.
R:
I read that you grew up in a community of
R:
Tell us a little about your next projects. Where can we see Giuvlipen shows and
M: events in Bucharest? We have two important projects this year at
Roma folk musicians, and yet you didn't learn
No actor/actress has the right to speak in
Giuvlipen.
how to play a musical instrument because
our name
The first show talks about the relationship
you were a girl. Are there such taboos and discriminatory attitudes towards women within Roma societies? M: I don't think sexism is more common than
women R:
have
to
their
bodies,
about
If you had to counsel an actress who is
'reclaiming' the body you live in and
preparing for a Roma role, what would you
which belongs to you, about sexual and
tell her?
reproductive rights. The premiere will be
in our non-Roma society. I think gender
M: Well, it depends. If she's not Roma I would
expectations and domestic violence are
tell her she doesn't have the right to play
The second show is about Porajmos, the
the same both in Roma and Romanian
a Roma role because we, Roma have a long
Roma genocide from the Second World War
communities. This is such a complex subject
history of silencing and no actor/actress
about which very little is known. This is a
that it would take us hours to debate.
has the right to speak in our name. It's
collaboration between us and the Jewish
Even statistics show that violence against
like blackface, the shameful and arrogant
Theatre. The premiere is on the 19th and
women is not directly linked to education,
white tradition of impersonating ethnic
20th of May, so save the date.
ethnic group or social class, it can be
characters by painting their faces black.
found everywhere in Romania. When I first
And if she is Roma I would advise her not
started working in Berlin, my colleagues
to compromise, not to accept stereotypical
knew that in Romania gymnasts and all
roles and instead find alternative ways of
36 (trindeśa aj śtar)
on the 30th of March, at Replika Theatre.
(trindeśa aj panʒ)
37
How the languages of Romania vanished
Romanian student of Romani Text by Andrei Dinescu
Romania is a multi-ethnic country with a rich
The same thing happened with the Germans
history where along the time settled many
that had been living here for many generations
various nations. Until recently, before the
and who wished to continue their lives and
Second World War, on its territory Romanians
struggled for this but who finally gave up because
lived together with Hungarians, Roma, Greeks,
of the same unfriendly climate impregnated by
Jews, Germans, Bulgarians, Tatars, Turks, Poles
nationalism and racism, artificially created in
and many others.
If we had walked on the
order to make them leave, sold to the German
streets of the Romanian towns or of Bucharest
state for hard cash in the '70s. Now Romania has
between the two world wars, we would have
only a few traces of these populations left, but
heard around us the languages of all these
their contribution to the culture of the country
people! How did they disappear and what is left
is still reflected even at individual level, despite
of them?
the fact we are unaware of this influence!
The
Holocaust
and
later
the
Today only two main minorities are left, the
destroyed
'multi-culti'
Hungarians and the Roma, the late also survivors
environment which existed at the beginning of
of the Holocaust and who didn't undergo a mass
the 20th century, when all these nations shared
immigration process to other countries, but
their existence despite the unstable balance
stayed on the Romanian territory. Even if the
between the slavery and the pogroms of the
Romanian nationalists circulate the idea that
19th century.
the Hungarians aren't able to speak Romanian,
The Jews that survived the war later on
actually this is not true as the majority of the
immigrated to Israel, a thing that happened with
Hugarians do speak Romanian or at least they
the 'help' of the Romanian government which in
understand it! Because of racism and nationalism
collaboration with the Israeli one, created here
we have today this situation: the Roma and the
an unwelcoming climate and actually chased
Hungarians speak and understand Romanian
them from the country where they had been
language, but all the others don't know a single
living for centuries. Actually, the Jews were
Hungarian or Romani word...
sold for money, with a certain price for each
This is how me, a 'gagiu' ('non-Roma'), ended up
family willing to immigrate, to the Israelian
in a real disadvantage by not understanding my
government that was looking to increase the
fellow citizens!
population of the newly formed state.
As a child I kept asking myself, since we are
38 (trindeśa aj śov)
Romanian
there is a Romani language section within the
learn in school a little Romani or Hungarian,
University of Bucharest, I started learning it
so we could at least have a basic conversation
in my 'old age'. But for the moment I haven't
with the people born in the same country?
reached the level of the 4 year old I heard on
Apparently not... Only the obsessive idea that
the street, although I'm trying.
the Hungarians should learn Romanian existed,
As a musician I was saddened by the fact that
while learning Romani language was almost
the most famous Roma singers avoid singing in
without any official support, not to mention
Romani, being afraid that they will be rejected
that promoting it as a treasure was out of the
by the nationalists that already ostracize them.
question!
Through music, they could actually become
More than this, I had the feeling that the Romani
promoters of the Romani language and could
language was almost extinct and hardly spoken
help fighting racism in the most natural way
by a few. Until one day I saw on the streets of
- through their art. It is possible that in the
Bucharest two very young Roma kids, about
near future there will be more 'hits' in this
4 and 6 years old, that were speaking among
language and I will do my best that the sounds
themselves their mother tongue. It was then
of the various languages spoken in Romania to
clear to me that this language was alive and there
be heard again on the streets of my country, at
was someone to carry it further! This gave me
least in music!
a little comfort, though it is quite shocking to
Languages of Romania, unite!
acknowledge its absence in the mass media and in any official circumstance. Luckily, because Andrei and Daniel, band Impex
communist
dictatorship with strong nationalist accents the
living all on the same territory, couldn't we all
(trindeśa aj efta)
39
Jannes Romanes? A bit.
Bahtalo! Bahtalee! Bahtale!
Marian Petre
M: Bah! Bah! In romani, you say 'bah'. H: In norwegian we say 'skol', which comes from skull, because in the past they used skulls as mugs. M: I moved to Bucharest when I started university and after I graduated, we bought a house here and built it up. I have been
Interview by Diana Pascu / Photographs by Harald Medbøe
here since '87. It's easier in Bucharest for an artist, here is where things go down.
13 tribes
You can also make it in the countryside, but maybe within larger cities. In Bucharest Marian Petre (born 1963, Drăgănești, Olt) is a
I consider myself an abstract blacksmith
roma sculptor who comes from a traditional
you're always in contact with museums,
I am teaching in school since '90, I am an
with other artists.
'ciurari' family. In 1987 he graduated from the
M: My father was a blacksmith, so I've been
Art Institute 'Nicolae Grigorescu', Bucharest,
used to this since I was young. I went to
The title of this one is 'Shadow'. It's inspired
University of Art, Sculpture Department. In 2007,
an art highschool and I think what I do is
by the images from the Holocaust, with the
Marian took part in the Art Biennial in Venice, at
a sort of smithing that goes beyond simple
kids behind wire fences
the first pavilion dedicated to roma artists.
craftmanship, it veers into the artistic. In
art teacher. H:
Traditionally, what did your ancestors use to do? 'Căldărari', 'fierari'?
M:
My father was a 'căldărar', and the parents of my grandmother were blacksmiths
the end, I consider myself a blacksmith, but
('fierari'). The 'căldărari' have a specific
an abstract sort of blacksmith. Somehow,
dialect. Smithing work can be done by
I am carrying on my father's work. The
'căldărari', or 'ursari', or other gypsy tribes.
smithing work he did, horseshoes, hoes,
It's not reserved to 'căldărari'. It's a craft,
things like these, I took the a step further,
like fortune telling. It wasn't done solely by
towards the arts. I also use wood and other
the 'căldărari', it could've be done by other
materials. I moved to Bucharest during
tribes as well.
university, so I've been here since... 1987. I
There are 13 tribes - 'căldărari', for example,
am from Oltenia, originally.
were
occupied
with
smithing
works,
cauldrons, pails... they work with iron, copper, metals. Unfortunately, now the folk On Facebook I have the same profile picture,
who work like this are old and many of them
what you're doing now
are getting lost. The craftwork starts from 50, 60 years old and over. For example in my case, on my father's side (grandfather, father), they were all blacksmiths and they passed their craft from father to son. Well, M: I get inspiration from history, like these pieces inspired by the Roma Holocaust.
M: I paint and I sculpt. I covered them all so that they don't gather dust. You can use any piece for the launch. I gathered them like this to make space for work. I can spread them a little. The frames are quite heavy, if you wanted to hang them...
40 (trindeśa aj oxto)
Also, I am inspired by everyday life: family problems, problems in love... sometimes just this, problems and suffering... Art helps me release negative energy. If I didn't have art, I'd feel a little lost because I'd try to find another escape.
this tradition stops with me. I haven't done blacksmithing, but something related. My children don't do this anymore. I was offered to take on an apprentice, but I am always teaching in schools and I prefer to have more time in the studio. It's a thought. Although when I leave school, I have 2-3 free hours and that's about
(trindeśa aj enӑ)
41
it. I'd love to spend all day in the studio, obviously. But a steady job covers my living
H: One day, I'd love to be able to buy one of
expenses and then I don't have to sell out,
your works. How much is this one, with the
commercially - I have a certain freedom.
horse and the girl? M: $4000... Harald, you once had a plan with a
M: I want to ask Harald, what made him choose this line of work, the gypsies?
RomaMobil... H: Yes, yes, this was for a TV show. I got an
H: Because my mother was born in Bucharest,
ambulance and I covered it with pictures
I have 25% blood from my grandfather, who
and images from Roma communities. I drove
was a boyar, but I think I have an overdose
it from Romania all the way to Norway... We
and I am actually 125% Romanian, without
should start another art project, 'Garbage
speaking a word of Romanian. How old are
Art' or 'Trash Art' in Ferentari.
you?
M: Yes, I am in.
M: 55 years old. H: I think you are an excellent ambassador
R:
Another idea: we open a Fortune Telling
for the artistic and creative potential of
Studio where we bring Roma foretellers. Do
Roma crafts. I don't know where you get
they still exist?
all your energy from, but I admire you
M: Sure, in the countryside.
greatly! I met the 'căldărari' from Brateiu,
H: By the way, your sculptures will be worth
for example, and they teach blacksmithing
a fortune in the near future. It would be a
in Switzerland, but they prefer not to call
good investment to buy now.
themselves artists. They make perfect
M: They'll be worth more after I die. If you
traditional objects, but they haven't made
buy them, Harald, all of them, I'll kill myself
the transition into art, towards the abstract.
tomorrow and you'll be rich!
M: Yes, they are stuck in the practical.
42 (śtardeśa)
H: No!
(śtardeśa aj jekh)
43
' 44 (śtardeśa aj duj)
I found out recently why we use this phrase.... Everybody uses it, it's so deeply rooted in our language and the majority don't know where it comes from. I found out a few weeks ago and I was horrified. (Oana Maria)
(śtardeśa aj trin)
45
A national premiere
The great shame Project author: Alina Șerban
A pilot project for a Roma Art Cultural Centre in Bucharest
Alina Șerban is the president of the theatre and
Alina Serban is the brain behind Roma political
contemporary art company Untold Stories and
theatre in Romania and she’s been running
a valuable film and theatre actress, playwright,
theatre, film and educational projects since
stage director and producer.
2009. She is the first female Roma playwright in Romania and in 2016 she wrote, directed and
Alina spent her adolescence in extreme poverty
acted in the show The Great Shame, a national
with her father's relatives, in a community of
premiere.
tinkers. Although she came from a traditional family, she refused to follow the custom of early
In 2017, Alina Șerban was invited by Harvard
marriages, realizing that education is the only
University to host a special presentation and
way to escape poverty. In order to continue her
play one of her most famous theatre projects
studies at university and to have a chance to
- I declare on my own risk - as part of the
live in normal conditions, she was placed under
international conference Culture and Beyond -
child protection.
the Roma contribution.
After she graduated UNATC - The National
Also in 2017, Alina Șerban had a role in the short
University of Theatre and Film 'I.L.Caragiale'
film Written/Unwritten, the only Romanian
(Bucharest), she was accepted at the most
short film nominated at the European Film
famous theatre schools in the world: The
Awards, and she played the main roles in two
Tisch School of Arts (New York) and The Royal
European feature films: Seule a mon mariage
Academy of Dramatic Art (UK). In 2012 she won
(Belgium) and Gypsy Queen (Germany).
the award Best Romanian student in the UK and she also won the drama contest Stories of London - Rich Mix with the play Home. She is one of the six artists chosen for a permanent artistic residence within the famous London International Festival of Theatre.
46 (śtardeśa aj śtar)
(śtardeśa aj panʒ)
47 45
Alina Șerban sudestica@yahoo.com www.alinaserban.com 0727470689
The Great Shame: a national premiere The show The Great Shame is both the first theatre project directed by a Roma actress in Romania and the first theatre play that talks about the history around Roma slavery and its social consequences that are still affecting us in the present. The project is based on historical and social research in the field. The project entails the participation of Roma and non-Roma actors who work together and form a team reflecting the values of diversity and tolerance.
Untold Stories Association The Untold Stories Association was founded and is now being run by Alina Șerban. Its mission is to promote learning through art and other pro-diversity and pro-intercultural ideas. The
Marea Rușine - The Great Shame
association includes both Roma and Romanian artists, joined in the common mission of The Great Shame is a fundamentally educational show and is meant to start discussions and to
encourage
awareness
communication
between
the
Roma
and
mutual
and
non-
Roma communities. Tying together a painful history of individual stories and contemporary interpersonal relations, the show presents side by side historical and contemporary realities from everyday life. It is, thus, an educational artwork and it paves the way towards overcoming discrimination, while also encouraging intercultural communication. The Great Shame live performances are played in an interactive manner in order to educate the audience and they are followed by Q & A sessions. Alina Șerban and her team wish to bring to the fore topics that have been neglected by the general public, and they also put on shows inside Roma communities. Thus, The Great Shame is designed to work on two levels: on one hand to engage the general public with overlooked topics regarding Roma minorities, and on the other hand to offer relevant theatre productions to Roma audiences.
48 (śtardeśa aj śov)
developing socially relevant cultural projects
https://vimeo.com/225881913
that encourage the creation of a diverse, pluralist and tolerant society.
parola 12345
The association aims to start a long term partnership with Bucharest City Hall in order to develop and promote Roma art and eventually endorse various Roma cultural and educational productions and projects hosted by a Roma Cultural Centre in Bucharest. In order to promote intercultural dialogue, diversity and tolerance, we believe it is essential to have a space that ensures visibility for Roma stories, stories that are to be shared by Roma and Romanians, a space that would also facilitate exchanges between Roma and Romanians. The Great Shame is a cultural and educational project with which the Untold Stories Association intends to get people from Bucharest interested in this dialogue between Roma and Romanians.
Alina Șerban sudestica@yahoo.com www.alinaserban.com (śtardeśa aj efta)
49 47
A brief history
Manele Text by Adrian Șchiop 'Manele' is the musical genre through which
Răceanu, who emigrated to the United States.
oriental influences, coming from the ex-
Once there, Răceanu takes a few loose tunes from
Ottoman Empire, entered Romanian popular
the slum folklore and turns them into something
culture. The origins of the genre are lost in
else. His album enters the underground market
the mists of time - in the 19th century, Anton
in the form of samizdat tapes (multiplied by
Pann includes in his folklore anthology a
hand, from one tape recorder to another) and
number of 'amanele'. These are sad love songs,
'Magdalena’, the story of a beautiful prostitute,
filled with sighs, enjoyed mainly by the lowly
becomes a clandestine national anthem.
public; same as today, the genre is renounced by the westernised elites, who saw it as
In the mid '80s, the genre corners the market
rudimental and too oriental. But the genre, the
with local boybands: Azur, Generic, Odeon.
way it was musically defined back then, has a
These bands are not made up of Roma folk
different sound from what we know today: it's
musicians, but instead they are unprofessional
something else entirely, both rhythmically and
musicians who use elements from etnopop
harmonically.
bands from the former Yugoslavia or Greece. These bands strip down the style even further
Following the instauration of communism, in
by using keyboards with electronic rhythm
the ‘60s and ‘70s, the 'manele' re-emerge in the
sections - basically, one musician can now hold
repertoire of the most emblematic folklorists of
a whole concert by himself. The genre is banned
the period - Romina Purceanu (Șaraiman), Gabi
by the communist regime, who calls it 'polluted
Luncă (Maneaua florăreselor) or Brothers Gore.
folklore', thus blocking their access to the official
These songs are more similar to the modern
record label, Electrecord, and tries to stop
'manele', defining the specific rhythm and
them from performing publicly in restaurants.
harmonies; moreover, the 'manea' becomes a
Despite this, they enjoy a huge success, one of
merry genre suited for parties and celebrations,
Azur's albums selling more than half a million
breaking away from the traditional folklore
copies. The albums are recorded live during
music, which is more sober and meant to be
concerts
heard after dinner. Unlike the modern 'manea',
pirate record labels. From one perspective, the
though, the genre is performed using acoustic
genre's success can be explained as an answer
instruments
to the communist discourse of the time, when
(harpsichord,
base,
clarinet,
saxophone).
and
subsequently
multiplied
by
people were losing their trust in the system and its capacity to generate prosperity and started
The first modern ‘manele’, which use bass and
thinking about survival mechanisms. Timidly,
electric guitars and simplify the harmonic
these bands work into the domain of discourse
complexity of the songs, turning them into
new capitalist concepts such as money, power
pop songs, belong to a folk musician, Nicolae
and the envy of enemies.
50 (śtardeśa aj oxto)
After the fall of communism, oriental music
2000 and 2001 sees the re-emergence of
continues to enjoy an inertial success for a
endorsed
year or two but, competing with the undeniably
musicians fall into de background once again
more seductive Anglo-American music, it slowly
- but they'll catch up in the following years,
loses its audience. Between the years 1992 and
collaborating with Romanian rappers. Their
2000, 'manele' fall out of the foreground and
audience spreads beyond the humble public,
continue to grow underground, ignored by the
becoming popular with students; for a few
media. During this period 'manele' are led by
years, one can hear 'manele' played in student
Roma musicians who change the face of 'manea'
or generalist clubs. They also catch the
- Dan Armeanca (considered by Roma musician
attention of important record labels (Cat Music
as the godfather of 'manele'), Vali Vijelie, Adrian
and Media Pro). The musicians who monopolize
Minune, Jean de la Craiova, Florin Mitroi,
the scene are Roma personalities who stayed
Doru Calotă. The genre is totally overlooked
underground during the '90s: Nicolae Guță, Vali
by the media and, under the influence of
Vijelie.
Romanian
boybands
and
Roma
hooligan subgenres, the 'manea' can create its domanin of discourse outside the confines of
From 2008 onwards, the 'manele' reinvent
public censorship, thus glorifying gangsters,
themselves as ghetto music once more, but this
informality, wealth and sexuality. During the
time they keep close to the tabloid media, who
same period, the 'manea' seems to become
will pay constant attention to them. Moreover,
the preferred genre of gangsters, leaders of
the scene now has a TV channel dedicated
informal and illegal economy and heroes of
solely to this muzical genre, Taraf TV, and
hooligans, the youngsters who imitate them.
the production companies dealing in 'manele' adapt quickly to new media marketing. Pirating
Between 2000 and 2008, the 'manele' regain
affects the earnings in the industry less than it
popularity with the general public and they
affects other scenes because the record labels
receive attention from the media, becoming the
are supplemented by event agencies: basically,
cause of an unprecendented wave of moral panic
the industry supports itself through private
in the history of Romanian music - although
events. At the same time a new generation of
the 'manea' bears striking resemblance to
Roma musicians, such as the undeniable star
gangsta music, only the 'manea' is accused of
of the scene, Florin Salam, introduces feminine
vulgarity, exaggerated materialism, machismo
and metrosexual elements into the 'manele'
and glorified illegality. On the other hand, their
universe, shifting focus from financial power
success is also due to a lifting surgery done
towards the power of seduction.
on their image, which made 'manele' more compatible with youth culture - more precisely, in 2000, the 'manele' are contaminated by hiphop and dance. The movement belongs to a Romanian musician, Costi Ioniță, who has the idea of partnering up with Adrian Minune, rearranging some of his tunes. The musical style of the genre gets ripped in two, live versions becoming more and more unlike the studio ones - which sound very pop, with filtered voices, looped choruses and orchestration done by synthesizer or computer.
Painter George Vasilescu next to Florin Salam's portrait (photo by Lucian Muntean)
(śtardeśa aj enӑ)
51
How muzica lăutărească changed the lives of two American gadje
of the band. I began working with Ehsan to
among
book shows for Țagoi and soon our team grew
seems to bear a double burden—the stigma of
to include other musicians with whom I was
Șaraiman & Șaraiman
communist-style Etno TV 'folklorization' and the
conducting research, including the inimitable
effects of good old Romanian racism. The latter
Elvis Rromano from Maramureș. I viewed
leads to situations in which some Romanians
our pro-bono agent work as a way of giving
would rather see an ethnic Romanian hipster
something back to the musicians who were
or me (an American amateur musician) play
sharing their craft with us, but I had never
'muzică lăutărească' than an actual (Romani)
expected it to become more than an occasional
'lăutar'.
young
Romanians.
'Lăutar'
music
hobby. Most of our earliest shows were hosted by Macaz
Bar-Theatre-Coop
and
Londophone
Pub, which have been very supportive from the outset.
was shooting for some 'lăutari'. Ehsan was, my
Shaun William
friend told me, similarly obsessed with 'Balkan music'. There is a huge Romanian community in
An Iranian and an American are sitting on a
Chicago, which supports a whole economy of
crowded bus in rural southern Romania with
part-time local 'lăutari', underground manele
accordions in their laps. While it may sound like
dance clubs, and even touring musicians from
the beginning of a joke, this is really how the
Romania. It was through this scene that we each
story of Șaraiman Arts began. It was a sweltering
found Romanian music teachers and became
There are not as many venues that support
day in 2014 and I (an 'american-american' from
ever more obsessed with 'lăutar' music.
(overtly) Romani music in Bucharest as one
Photo: Yoni Goldstein
might think; racism is unfortunately part of
Ohio) was headed to the famous 'lăutar' village of Clejani with Ehsan, an Iranian-born musician
Over the next few years, Ehsan and I got in
the problem. Bar owners have told us 'you
and filmmaker who had spent a large part of the
touch with musicians in Romania through our
guys are welcome to play here but please don’t
last year living there and studying the accordion
expat 'lăutari' friends in Chicago and by 2016
bring Gypsies with you', and countless versions
with Marin 'Țagoi' Sandu (of Taraf de Haïdouks
both of us were living in Bucharest pursuing
of 'traditional music is fine, but absolutely no
fame).
music studies. I arrived in October 2016 to
manele!' Ironically, many Romanians claim to
begin field research for my dissertation on
hate 'manele', but when the band breaks into
Romani music and the Romani rights movement
a manele groove at a wedding, everyone gets
in Romania. By that time, Ehsan was married
up to dance. Then there’s the puzzling trend
to Delia, a Romanian journalist, and had begun
of 'manele hipsterești' — at best a nostalgic
organizing concerts for Țagoi and his sons. Like
DJ set of 90s hits, and at worst a kind of
many older 'lăutari', Țagoi no longer had the
whitewashed reinterpretation played by young
stamina to play weddings and baptisms, which
Romanians.
typically last 10 hours or more. Performing in a
exists in complete isolation from the lively
concert setting is preferable for many reasons,
community of 'lăutari' and 'maneliști' who
but older musicians with no experience in
perform the more contemporary versions of
self-promotion or the Internet have no way of
this music at night clubs and backyard parties
entering the market.
in the 'cartiere' (neighbourhoods, n.t.). Projects
I had met Ehsan a year earlier while he was still
I had come to Romania to do ethnographic
like the PARADAIZ artist collective and the
working as a taxi driver in Chicago. I had just
research with Romani musicians, which mostly
Outernational Days festival are working to bring
begun a master’s program in Ethnomusicology
consists of conducting interviews and engaging
Romani musicians (back) into the scene, but
in Indiana, and a mutual friend suggested I
in participant-observation — meaning anything
unfortunately the more traditional 'lăutarească'
invite him to work with me on a music video I
from attending performances to being part
music has more trouble finding an audience
Photo: Harald Medbøe
52 (panʒdeśa)
Sadly,
this
phenomenon
often
Poster design: Dave Kloc After several failed attempts to book shows at larger venues and festivals, we decided to simply organize our own festival and bring the audience to Clejani. At the same time, we figured that if we were going to be organizing bigger events like this, we ought to make our arts management project official and give it a name. Thus was born Șaraiman Arts, named after Romica Puceanu’s famous manea.
(panʒdeśa aj jekh)
53
tent for the 'stage' and dancing, a food stand
BAIRAM LA CLEJANI
with a grill and a pot of pork and beans, a drink
€ 247 billions
Ehsan had the crazy idea of organizing a festival
stand with beer, 'țuică' and mulled wine, and a
in Clejani years ago, but in spring 2017 it finally
bonfire that became the hub of an acoustic jam
began to seem feasible. Still crazy, but feasible.
session later in the evening. The diversity of the
According to official statistics and scientist's
crowd was a beautiful thing: local children and
Venera Achim's calculations, there were 266 335
elderly neighbors danced alongside Bucharest
Roma on Romanian territory when slavery was
hipsters, Romani activists, and foreign tourists.
abolished. According to the Ministry of Finance, the national minimum wage in 2012 was €162 per month. If we consider one month made up of 30 working days (slaves didn't have free days or weekends), the minimum required wage for sustenance would amount to €5,4 per day. All doubts put aside, Ciprian Necula reaches the following conclusions:
There were more logistical complications than I
Photo: Shimona Carvalho
care to discuss here, not least of which was the feat of transporting 100 people from Bucharest
It was a special energy that we all created that
to Clejani and back in the middle of the night.
night in Țagoi’s yard on the last night of the
Needless to say, there were many moments when
summer — a mixture of old-world and new,
it seemed like it might all fall apart. Yet, on the
of 'balade haiducești' and 'electro-manele', of
night of September 30th, 2017, two tour buses
bonfires and Facebook live streams. At three
full of partiers arrived on Strada Lăutarilor în
in the morning, as we huddled around the fire
Clejani and filled the Sandu family’s yard with
singing 'Șaraiman și Șaraiman!' with Stelian
dancing and revelry until four in the morning. It
Frunză on the accordion and Nea Dudu on the
was entirely a grassroots effort: there was a large
violin, I felt I had found my new home.
266 335 (slaves) x 471 (year) x 365 (days) x 5,4 euro (daily minimum wage) = € 247 249 700 235. An incomprehesible number! And there's no mention of the torture, callumny and human
Photograph by Harald Medbøe
degradation..
Folk Er Folk Magazine
Șaraiman & Șaraiman is an arts management agency composed of an international group of performers and activists whose mission is to place under-represented artists in the
The publication 'Folk Er Folk' is a magazine
spotlight they deserve and connect them with
distributed on the streets of Norway by Roma
appreciative audiences in premier venues. In
immigrants
doing so, we hope to build bridges between
environments. Through this project, which is
tradition and innovation, empowering artists to
an example of a european wide civic program,
explore new creative avenues while preserving
socially
traditional cultural practices. We act as an
given the chance of an honest job. Passages
advocate and intermediary for performers
from Shukar Magazin will be translated into
engaged in a range of musical genres, and our
Norwegian and published in 'Folk Er Folk' in the
artists retain full creative control over their
autumn of 2018.
coming
disadvantaged
from
disadvantaged
groups
are
being
work. Facebook: @Saraiman.arts Photos: Florin Bondrilă
54 (panʒdeśa aj duj)
saraimanarts@gmail.com
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55
Oslo contrabass player
Jenel Stan Interview by Diana Pascu / Photographs by Harald Medbøe Jenel is a Roma folk musician, a 'lăutar', who
J:
I'm from Bucharest, da. Nobody showed me
plays the contrabass on the streets of Oslo,
how to play, I learned from this guy and that
Norway. He practices his skill and passion far
guy. I used to play at weddings.
away from home, among 'strangers' and the
H: And why did you decide to take a minibus
money he earns he sends home to his wife and two children living in Bucharest. One early
to Oslo? J:
Well, what could I have done here? Are they
afternoon we visit Jenel in Pantelimon. Leaning
still playing the ‘tzambal’
on the wall there's a large contrabass overseeing
Now they started playing this kind of music
the room.
again, recently. R:
and whatnot?
Are you playing on the street, in Norway?
We are good gypsies, with character, with
Have you ever tried doing that here, in
something else. 'Lăutari'!
Bucharest?
J:
Good morning. Do you drink vodka?
J:
tried playing in Bucharest. I’m embarrassed.
H: Absolut! When are you going back to
You know how people are here, they laugh at
Norway? J:
you. Abroad they appreciate you differently.
At the end of February.
H: I have photographs of you in Oslo, together
Over there they appreciate gypsy music
with the band (contrabass, accordion and electric guitar), I have photographs of your boy next to his sport medals. Maybe you can come and play at Shukar's launch. J:
H: May I ask how much you make in one month? J:
you money anymore. H: Maybe that’s because of the fake news story that spoke about criminal Roma who lived
I'm embarrassed to play on the streets, in
in a Norwegian city and made a fortune
Romania R:
When did you first go to Norway?
J:
Well, I have 10 years outside. I come and go, with the minibus or the plane. It's more expensive with the plane, I have to pay loads for the contrabass. With the bus is different, you know.
R:
Are you from Bucharest? Where did you learn how to play the contrabass?
56 (panʒdeśa aj śtar)
Where, in Norway? Recently it’s been going very badly, it’s turning bad, they don’t give
Of course. We can talk. We've been friends for 10 years.
I play in the streets in Norway, yes, but I never
through prostitution and begging. They published fake photos with bags full of money stored in Roma homes. J:
I was in Romania when that happened. And it’s not been the same since - now people look at you differently, and they only throw you a crown or two. And it’s cold outside, and so on. But compared to a job here, in Bucharest, I’m doing alright. Around 20, 25 millions a month. Obviously, it’s still more
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57 55
than I would make here if I were to find work,
living there and we were all paying. We were
because where would I play? I don’t know
paying 100 crowns, 50 lei. Every day! He
people anymore, I live 2-3 months abroad,
was Romanian, we wasn’t Roma. That guy
a week here… But abroad they appreciate
was helping us, in a way, because he wasn’t
gypsy music more. Anyway, there are many
housing too many of us: we were about 3 or
gypsy nations. Look, for example our family
4 in an apartment and we were sharing the
doesn’t speak gypsy language. We didn’t
rent. It’s hard to find houses independently.
have any place to learn it from… We are
You are not allowed to drink, to misbehave.
romanized gypsies. But I know many people
But anyway, we were going to work, coming
who speak gypsy.
home, washing, eating and going to sleep you don’t have time for anything else. From morning to night, play music.
We’re gypsy-skinned, but we don't speak gypsy H: And your ancestors, have they also been
There were some guys already there and they brought me to them. We are one
musicians?
here in Bucharest. But anyway, we are good
Gypsy stew H: Are
gypsies, with character, with something else. ‘Lăutari’! There are also gypsies that…
there
any
restaurants
that
play
‘lăutărească’ music in Bucharest? J:
Sure there are. Hanul Voievozilor, do you
I can’t stand them, myself, they make it bad
know it? If you go there, there is ‘lăutărească’
for all of us. In Norway, because of many,
music non stop.
they judge us also. But I am not part of this,
H: Do you have any palinka? In Romania, I like
I am respected. H: How far back can you trace your family
susură izvor șopotind ușor lacrimă și dor
śoldel xaingorri, thavdel korkorri absi-aj dukhorri
frunza bate-n vânt în păduri de cânt peste ceas răsfrânt
patrǎ, balvalǎ and-ol veśorra, phagle ćàsura
ziua-ncet se gată noaptea vine, iată, peste lumea toată
děs lokhes nakhel àke-e rǎt avel, sundal ućharel
stele luminări străjuiesc mirări
ćerxa dudorrǎ bhrakhen godjorrǎ,
răsădind visări
thon sunimata
to drink local drinks, not whiskey. J:
I don’t have any palinka, only vodka, but this
roots?
is also good. I am sorry my wife is not here,
Well, you know, they say that gypsies
she could make you some food.
originally come from India. In some places
H: But could Dana make some gypsy stew,
it’s still like there, but not everywhere. H: Have you ever thought of moving to Norway with your family?
‘ciorbă’ for the Shukar launch? J:
Of course she can.
H: I have been very dependent on translators.
It’s expensive, too expensive. One ice cream
Many years ago I had one translator whose
is €4.
parents told him when he was little that if
H: It’s a big sacrifice you’re making, travelling
he doesn’t behave, they’ll give him to the
far away for your family’s sake, but I am
gypsies and they’ll make ‘mici’ out of him.
happy to see it’s working. Have you really
So he grew up thinking that gypsies are
felt a harshness in Norway, recently?
cannibals! And the first time we went to a
Yes, before I was making good money,
gypsy village, we ate a gypsy ‘ciorbă’ and he
compared to now. Now, you can imagine -
said it was the best thing he ever ate, better
after I pay the bus ticket and send money
than the ‘ciorbă’ his grandmother made.
J:
pantha rei
Yes, especially the family on my mother’s happening in Buzău. I am born and raised
J:
pantha rei
blower, one accordionist…
side, they were all musicians. This was
J:
Sorin Aurel Sandu
H: How did you decide to go to Norway? J:
J:
Transgression
home, there isn’t a lot of money left. And you
J:
know how expensive the food is in Norway,
H: Next time!
and after you also pay the rent… There was
1000 copies of this volume, 'Transgresiune' by Sorin Aurel Sandu, were published by the publishing house belonging to the National Centre for Roma Culture, as part of the program 'Roma Editorial Productions', and is distributed for free.
I am sorry my wife is not at home… www.cncr.gov.ro
one guy with a house, we were a few guys
58 (panʒdeśa aj śov)
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59
This kid's got talent
Denis Nanciu higschool in Bucharest. During the last years, Denis took part in various cultural projects developed by the Romani BoutiQ association as well as by the National Roma Cultural Centre. His painting intitled
much seen in exhibitions or openings, but I
this kid's got talent' and mentioned it in the
sell with the help of various acquaintances.
teachers hall . It so happened that I ended up
Sometimes there are people calling me -
in a glass painted icons contest when I was
some order new paintings, others choose
in the 7th grade. I didn't win anything, but
among those I've already done.
I had bought the machine, I had about
architecture is more solid than art...
everything, all I neeeded was ink - I still
H: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
have it but I've never used it. I just didn't
D: Two older brothers
have they money for the ink when I bought
H: Are they artists too?
it...
D: No... nobody in the family. I suppose I've got the talent from my mother. When I was
Poem
little, I was asking her to draw me all sort
by Daria Danciu
of stuff. What is inspiring you? How do you choose
I wish I were green.
your subjects?
The saint nature should love
D: For example, the painting in the photo was
D: I think so, I understood I need to pass some exams. I also see some artists (that already had their own exhibitions) and so I get the chance to practice some more drawing. R: Are you from Bucharest?
On a dust cloud
class. I read that poem many times and it
Which I should easily chase towards other
stirred in me this image with surrealistic
places, distant realms.
highlights, which became my painting style.
One day they would change,
Actually I gave her the painting as a present
I won't be left anything to chase,
for her birthday.
But until then, me, the green girl
during the exhibitions or somehow?
my village there is separate neighbourhood
Adorned with flowers I should float
inspired by a poem written by a girl in my
H: Nice! Did you manage to sell some paintings,
D: No, I was born in a village nearby Călărași. In
I've just remembered what I wanted to say.
about studying architecture, I was thinking
R:
H: Do you want to study Arts at the University?
R:
Once I was thinking about doing tattoos.
named 'Kai jeas, Romale?' - Sad lovestories with a gypsyhood scent.
image, which is actually my style of painting
to do with drawing, but who thought 'look,
thing motivated me! Initially, I was thinking
'The Earth's Maker' ended up on the cover of a novellas book written by Gheorghe Păun-Ialomițeanu,
It woke up in me this surrealistic kind of
D: Yes. This is how I support myself. I'm not
it really mattered that I participated. That
An interview by Diana Pascu / Photographs by Harald Medbøe
Denis Nanciu (b. 1999, in Nana, Călărași) is a young painter that has just graduated 'Dimitrie Paciurea'
had a teacher which actually had nothing
With apple tree flowers and lilies and nuts, Will help me Accomplish only what is good.
(let's just call it like this) inhabited only by gypsies. The other side is only for the Romanians. I grew up in the gypsyhood.. But I have friends that live among Romanians. H: And your parents, what where they doing for a living? D: Well, menial jobs in the village. Nothing steady. I live in Bucharest now because I study here. For two years I lived in a dorm... H: How was it? D: It was somewhere in Rahova. The dormitory was quite all right, but the people there aren't always okay, because many of them, though coming from far away, didn't come to accomplish something, but just hang around, wasting their time. That's what I didn't like there. Anyway, in exchange you may also find some really cool people.
60 (panʒdeśa aj oxto)
H: While I take some photos, tell us something about painting. D: I started by drawing illustrations for some poems, using aquarelle. Usually I prefer oil - I started with acrylic and tempera when I was a kid, by first grade I think. But by that time I had no idea I'd become a painter, that I would be really passionate about painting. I started doing it more when I had a new drawing teacher in the 6th grade. Then we
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59 61
Coordinator/photographer: Harald Rioșianu Medbøe
Chief editor / reporter:
Thank you:
Diana Cătălina Pascu Drob Community
Contributors: Tore-Jarl Bielenberg Žarko Jovanovic Alexandru Tîlvîc Ciprian Necula Tudor Lakatos Andrei Dinescu
Delia Grigore Nisha Lucica George Vasilescu Walter Ghidibaca Oana Maria Cătălin Chirilă The National Centre for Roma Culture (Romano Kher) European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (Eriac)
Alina Șerban Adrian Șchiop Shaun Williams Sorin Aurel Sandu Irlo Doidoi Octav Ungureanu
Art Directors: Florin Constantin Alexandra Andrieș
62 (śovdeśa)
and to all the roma met along the way.
Harald Medboe is a Nowegian photographer, writer and artist with Romanian ancestry through his mother. He visited Romania constantly during the last years and discovered that his family owes its existence to… a dead Roma man! In 1574, Boyar Stoichiţă Rioşanu from Craiova had a dream that determined him building a monastery “by a river where a pack of wolves had its den”. Thus the boyar started the construction of Strâmba Monastery and when he ran out of money, he actually took some from the personal fortune of Prince Şerban Radu, which he was administering. When the prince found out about the theft, he became so angry that he sent 6 soldiers to kill boyar Stoichiţă and destroy the monastery in revenge. The beauty of the monastery impressed the captain and finally Boyar Stoichiţă managed to convince him to spare his life. But the captain was risking his own life and he needed a proof that Stoichiţă was executed. What they did was burn down just a wooden tower and behead a Roma man that was working at the monastery and had died just a day before. The head was presented to the prince as that of Stoichiţă and this is how the Rioşanu family line was saved.
Harald Medboe is planning a second book about Roma people’s
culture and traditions, after publishing a first one 10 years ago.
Shukar Magazine is part of the information that will be gathered
in this book and it was possible due to the Roma that opened
their hearts and told their stories, as well as due to the
Romanian volunteers that put together their enthusiasm and
work. (WALTER GHIDIBACA, writer)
I first came to Romania in the summer of 2001; it is my Motherland. My mother Ecaterina Rioșianu was born in București in 1911. I am a photographer and writer and the Romá caught my interest when I came here. So on my first trips to Romania I was with different Romá clans. The Gabors I met in Brașov in 2001, and they are still my friends. In 2006 I published the book “Rrom- gypsytrips” in Norway. I kept on coming to Romania and did exhibitions in Sinaia and Sibiu 2009. I am now on my tenth trip to Romania since October 2015, working on a new book about the Romá and Romanians I´ve met on the road. I feel that the atmosphere is changing in my Motherland and on my last trips I managed to gather Romá and Romanians working together on “Shukar Magazin”. The magazine is to be released on 30 March 2018. The history of Romá in Romania has not been part of the historical education in my Motherland, and I think it is time that Romanians and Romá work together to fill the gaps that have been left by a dysfunctional educational system. I see that the younger Romanians want to learn more about the Romá culture, and I am happy to see that the time has come for young Romá and Romanians to work together on this subject. “Shukar Magazine” is a pilot project, if well received the team will apply for support through Norway and EU for production of three magazines a year in Romania. (HARALD TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHERLAND)