A People Uncounted tells the true story of the Roma, commonly referred to as Gypsies—a people who have been both romanticized and vilified in popular culture and who have endured centuries of intolerance and persecution in Europe, including an estimated 500,000 who were murdered in the Holocaust.
A People Uncounted documents their colorful but often difficult lives, including how their present state has been shaped by the tragedies of the past. Filmed in 11 countries and featuring dozens of Roma—including Holocaust survivors, historians, activists and musicians—A People Uncounted brings the Romani history to life through the rich interplay of their poetry, music, and compelling first hand accounts.
As ethnic intolerance flares up across Europe, A People Uncounted sheds light on this unique culture while presenting the Roma tale as emblematic of the world’s legacy of racism and genocide.
Reporter: Roma integration in Bulgaria
The Roma account for 6.5% of Bulgaria’s population, in total, about half a million. As elsewhere in Europe, they face discrimination and poor living conditions. Far right groups have targeted them, and their lack of access to health care has brought a formal complaint against the government. This café, in the Hristo Botev area of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, is a Roma-run enterprise, attracting a Roma clientele. Most people living here are Roma. It’s not the sort of housing you’d expect to find in the capital of an EU Member State. We’ve got no bathrooms here, no toilets. Our roads are in a terrible state. Everybody is sick and we don’t have money, no social security cards so that we would be like other EU countries. We’d like to be at least a bit… Health insurance is a big issue. The Bulgarian government changed the rules, making it essential. But anyone without work and not on social benefit cannot obtain it. Which makes it very hard for people like Desislava Krasmirova, even though she has both an education and a job. Without insurance, we have to pay 20 to 30 leva for a consultation with a doctor. I don’t know what it’s like for the others, the attitude towards them is different, but every time they see us, gypsies, they say, ‘pay or get out’. The others don’t get that treatment. The situation got so bad that a complaint was lodged against the government by a Budapest-based NGO under the Council of Europe’s Social Charter, a 50-year-old treaty on basic civil and human rights. But the Roma are used to being victims of discrimination and the 13 billion euros of EU aid spread across 10 countries for 2007-2013 haven’t brought the hoped-for changes. There is a lot of corruption. This may be the case but it’s not the only thing, and usually we have to be prepared for a long run, because to me the first and most important target is education, along with different forms of integration in terms of social practices. Miroslav Stefanov is mayor of the Filipovtsi area of Sofia. He was appointed by GERB but says he has little power to change things, although he’s proud that Filipovtsi doesn’t have the drug problem common in the city. He’s disillusioned with politicians, who only seem interested when canvassing for votes, which are often sold to the party that pays the most. They are well aware of the problems in Roma neighbourhoods, most people are aware of them, but they’re determined to keep the conditions so that it’s easier to manipulate us during election time. Many times they have been promised milk and honey, but it doesn’t happen to them because the money is not going to the right targets. They are not set up to meet the needs of these people. Antonyia Parvanova regrets that the Roma lack role models, and that will take time: youngsters need to see the possibility of a better way of life. Vasil Chaprazov edits a newspaper for his fellow Roma in Sofia. Like other leading members of Roma communities, he sees getting a job as the vital first step, but that means getting an education. The thing that can really change people’s lives is economics, the possibility to work and to keep one’s dignity through earning enough money. There is a lack of understanding of the Roma: at least eight tribes with different traditions and faiths. Throwing money at the problem won’t make it go away. EU institutions need to understand better what the problems are and how the Roma see their world.
It was international translation day yesterday, so I’ve been told!
This is from a series of videos I’m doing for some Lovari Romani trying to learn the language, specifically the Lovari dialect. In belated spirit of international translation day, I though I should share this. It is important phrases, such as greetiings, please & thankyou, etc..
Yes - Va or Haj
No - Na/Naj
Hello - T’aven baxtale & t’aves baxtalo(i)
O Del andas tumen - Devlesa arakhlam tume
Who are you - Kon san
Whose are you - Koski San
What is your name - So si tjiro anav
How are you called - Sar bushos
My name is (I am called) - Me bushov..
How are you - Sar san
Ok - Mishto
I am Ok - Sim mishto
Good - Lasho(i)
I am well - Sim lasho(i)
Bad - na lasho(i)
I am not well - Chi sim lasho(i)
Please - mangavtu or mangavtut
Thank you - Najis or Najis tuke
You’re Welcome - Na pe soste
Excuse me - Na xoljajve
Goodbye - Zha Devlesa (singular) & Zhan Devlesa (plural)
I will occasionally share one of these language videos, but because there is still much controversy about whether we ought to share our language or not, the entire video series is private & will stay that way.
If you are Romani & would like to learn the language, then send me a message & we will discuss it. We are trying to establish a means to teach various dialects of Rromanes & Domari in a private setting. So, if you are Romani & know some of the language or are fluent & would like to participate, that is also more than welcomed.
It’s free. There is no money to be spent & none to be made, so keep that in mind. If you are going to participate by posting videos in your dialect, it is strictly on a volunteer basis & you will not make money from it.
But šukar gindo si, mura phenjo! And a very lovely video!
Who cares?
The true story about a Roma woman Mathilda and her difficult journey in life.
Short film about the annual pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (to visit the shrine of Sara e Kali…
I did this pilgrimage when I was 10 or 11.
Ick.. I am not exactly the best at shuffling.
I honestly spend most of my mornings doing this. Your chunri are beautiful though! I’m always jealous of Roma who have straight hair.
But šukar khelimos thaj čura, šeja! :)
Aj, Devla
My bad Dialect Challenge video.
I couldn’t wait to post it as I am going to have to go to bed soon and I have an early work morning tomorrow (and wouldn’t be able to post it from there anyway)….
So. Here it is. (I HATE MYSELF)
Šukar romni ando Tumblr phendel amende pa laki romani šib! :)
Romani dialect challenge.
This was so weird. I’ve never spoken Romanes for or in front of non-Romani.
The words I said:
Dog – džukhel
Necklace – gerdani
lanco/lantso - loan word
merikli - necklace of beads/pearls
Sky – čer
Chocolate - kamfet (means candy)
Laugh – asal
Rain - beršind
Toilet - hajzli
Chicken - kajn/kahn
(Not to be confused with kHan where the H is aspirated; that means fart)
pujo (not generally used in my dialect, though)
Music - bašalipe
Mushroom – xuxur & boraca/boratsa
(I am not sure exactly how “xuxur” should be spelled. I don’t know if it’s “xuxur” or “khurkhur”.)
Greeting – T’aven baxtale (I actually said t’aves by mistake. I was super nervous)
O Del andas tumen
Luck - baxt
Love – volis (to love)
kamel (to like or to want; rarely used for love in my dialect)
Friend – pajtaši
amalin (both pajtaši & amalin are common in my dialect)
I have a terrible phobia of public speaking & to me this is public speaking. This video was a huge deal for me. I was never allowed to speak our language outside of my house & my family, so this is a monumental thing. It may not sound as though I was nervous, but I can assure you, I was extremely nervous wile doing this post.
Šukar romni ando Tumblr phendel amende pa laki romani šib! :)
Letanovce, Východní Slovensko, cikánská osada, listopad 2010, produced by : Ladiz.NET, music by : Romano Trajo
This warms my heart. Happy video of happy Rromani people… my people (Slovak Rroma)…
So… just… some of those kids look like my phenjorije and phrala…. and the men my kako and papo…
I miss them.
but I’m grinning hugely at this~!
Aj, kasavo šukar video! Vi si man ekh baro baro asapo po muro muj! :D
Kalyi Jag - Avile le roma luma maj
Avile le roma luma maj,
Avile te mangaven luma maj,
Sode mangen pe tyi shej luma maj,
Tranda liri thaj dopash.
refrén:
Akharde man te khelau luma maj,
Thaj me pendem chi zhanau luma maj,
Lingerde man te khelau luma maj,
Thaj me phendem chi khelau.
Shunta khate so phenau luma maj,
Av tu khote kaj beshau luma maj,
Karing mande t avesa luma maj,
Tranda liri me davau.
Refrén:
Akharde man…
Roma Refugees in Canada
Hungarian Roma Refugees in Canada are facing a concerted effort by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government to delegitimize their claims of persecution - effectively labeling them “Bogus Refugees”. As Hungary is part the European Union it is considered a “Safe Country” where the rights of ethnic and religious minorities are protected under the law. The stories of the Hungarian Roma who flee institutional discrimination and physical violence reflect a very different reality. Hungarian society is deeply divided and at the brink of civil war. Pre-war fascist/Hungarist ideologies are again in vogue. The majority of rural Hungarian Roma live in far worse conditions then 20 years ago. Segregation and further marginalization face the younger generation as thousands of people flee their homeland in search of a better future.
In 1939 the Jewish refugees aboard the Ms. St. Louis were refused help and turned away from Canadian shores. Most of them perished in the Concentration Camps. The current Canadian Government is now responsible for assisting in the persecution of the Roma by labeling them as “bogus refugees”.
They are on the wrong side of history just as Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was in 1939.
Gypsy dance - Performance by guest group at Vajdaszentivány Dance Camp 6 Aug 2002 - I
SULUKULE: Kimin için dönüşüm?/ Transformation for whom?
Özet:
2006 yılında ‘Kentsel Dönüşüm’ projesi kurbanı olan Sulukule, İstanbul’da 1000 yıllık geçmişi olan bir mahalle. Çoğunluğu Roman olan ve evleri belediye tarafından hukuksuzca yıkılan mahalle sakinleri, 40 km ötedeki Taşoluk’ta TOKİ’nin inşa ettiği evlerden satın almak zorunda bırakıldı. Ev sahibi olma umuduyla oraya mecburen taşınan kiracılar hüsrana uğradılar. Neredeyse tamamı taksitlerini ödeyemeyip eskisinden çok daha zor şartlarda Sulukule yakınlarına geri döndü, Taşoluk’ta kalan birkaç aile ise zar zor orada tutunmaya çalışıyor. 1000 yıllık mahallenin yerinde ise bugün zenginlerin lüks villaları yükseliyor. Bu dönüşümden kim karlı çıktı?Synopsis
In 2006, The 1000-year-old neighborhood of Sulukule in Istanbul was the victim of ‘Urban Transformation’. The residents, most of whom were Roma, had their houses demolished illegally and were forced to buy TOKI’s social housing apartments in Taşoluk, 40 km away from their neighborhood. Hoping to own a house, the tenants reluctantly accepted to move there. The majority who couldn’t afford the installments moved back to areas near Sulukule. The ones remaining in Taşoluk can barely manage. Today fancy villas of the rich have replaced the 1000-year old neighborhood. Who has profited from this transformation?Yapımcı/Producer: Imre Azem
Yönetmen/Director: Nejla osseiran
Kurgu/Editor: Mesut Ulutaş
Yapım/Production: Kibrit Film
Müzik/Music: Ozan Türkyılmaz & Barış Yerli
Süre/Running time: 8’
Yılı/Year: 2012
Мирослав Горват (Myroslav Horváth)
Video in Ukrainian. I can’t translate, but I can give the gist:
Interviews with Ukrainian Roma, saying why they need the same rights as everyone else. They can also have discotheques and run business, etc etc. They say how much they wish to have respect, to be treated well.
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