Romani people

• 1. Origins And Migration History

  ›

  In 1976, the International Roma Cultural Festival in Chandigarh, India received support from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She referred to the Romani people as part of the global Indian diaspora during that event. Genetic findings published in 2012 suggest these ancestors originated in northwestern India. They migrated as a group around 500 CE according to historical estimates. Linguistic evidence shows their language shares grammatical characteristics with modern Indian dialects. A large part of its basic lexicon also shares the same root words found there today. The Romani migration hypothesis is supported by several lines of evidence including military-related vocabulary. This unique blend suggests they passed through Armenia before linguistic changes of the 9th century occurred. They arrived in the Balkans during the Byzantine period around the 12th century. Records indicate an earlier arrival potentially as early as the 7th century existed. By the 14th century, Roma were recorded in Venetian territories like Methoni and Nafplio. Around 1360, a fiefdom called Feudum Acinganorum was established on Corfu using Romani serfs. Fleeing Ottoman wars, Romani people began migrating to western Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. They often traveled as pilgrims in organized groups between 40 and 200 people strong. By the 16th century, they were present throughout western and northern Europe regions.

• 2. Subgroups And Dialects

  ›

  The only name approaching an all-encompassing self-description is simply Rom. Even when subgroups do not use this term, they acknowledge a common origin and dichotomy with Gadjo non-Roma. For instance, Sinti refer to their language as Romanes despite being predominantly German-speaking. Names such as kale and calé may have originated as exonyms meaning black or absorbing all light. These closely resemble words for dark colors found in Indo-Aryan languages like Sanskrit. The Dom or Domba people of north India share genetic cultural and linguistic links with modern Roma. Other endonyms include Arlije describing local sedentary Muslim Roma in the Balkans and Turkey. Bashaldé refers to Hungarian-Slovak Roma diaspora communities in the United States since the late 19th century. Bergitka Roma are Carpathian Roma primarily located in Poland's Goral lands. Çerge describes nomadic Muslim Roma living across the Balkans and Turkey today. Calé serves as the endonym used by both Spanish and Portuguese Roma populations globally. Gurbeti Muslim Roma reside in Northern Cyprus, Turkey, and various parts of the Balkan region. Kaale or Kàlo represents the primary subgroup identity in Finland and Sweden. Lovari speaks a dialect influenced heavily by Hungarian within Central Europe regions. Polska Roma constitutes the largest Romani subgroup currently existing in Poland alone.

• 3. Persecution And Genocide

  ›

  During World War II, Nazis committed systematic genocide against the Roma known as Porajmos in their language. Romanies were marked for extermination and sentenced to forced labor inside concentration camps. They were often killed on sight especially by Einsatzgruppen paramilitary death squads operating on the Eastern Front. Total victims have been estimated between 220,000 and 1,500,000 people overall. In Independent State Croatia, Ustaša militia killed almost entire population numbering around 25,000 individuals. The Jasenovac camp system responsible for deaths ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 Roma specifically. Post-1945 Czechoslovakia labeled them socially degraded stratum while women underwent state-mandated sterilization policies. These programs used financial incentives threats denying welfare payments misinformation or administered drugs directly. An official inquiry resulting December 2005 concluded Communist authorities practiced assimilation controlling birth rates through social services. New cases revealed up until 2004 occurred both in Czech Republic and Slovakia nations respectively. Germany Norway Sweden Switzerland all possess histories of coercive sterilization targeting minorities extensively. Slavery was widely practiced medieval Europe including territory present-day Romania before founding principalities Moldavia Wallachia. Legislation decreed all Roma living these states classified slaves regardless immigration status later added. Slavery gradually abolished during 1840s and 1850s decades across Danubian Principalities region.

• 4. Modern Diaspora And Demographics

  ›

  There is no official reliable count worldwide regarding total Romani populations currently existing today. Many refuse registering ethnic identity official censuses due fear discrimination against themselves personally. Despite challenges getting accurate picture dispersal estimates suggest ten million lived Europe as of 2019. Some organizations gave earlier figures reaching fourteen million people total within European borders alone. Significant populations found Balkans throughout entire continent including southern France notably mentioned frequently. Outside Europe several million more exist particularly Americas following migrations beginning late 19th century. In United States population estimated over one million individuals residing there now. Between eight hundred thousand and one million live Brazil mostly ancestors emigrated 19th century Eastern Europe. Brazilian Roma mainly called ciganos by non-Romani population majority belong Calés Kale subgroup. Juscelino Kubitschek president serving 1956 to 1961 fifty percent Romani mother's bloodline ancestry confirmed. Washington Luís last president First Brazilian Republic 1926, 1930 also possessed Romani heritage through family lines. Countries South Eastern Europe without forced sterilization experienced steady increases birth rates during 20th century continue today. Romania wrongly identified origin place because similar name Roma/Romani versus Romanian derived Latin romanus meaning Roman referencing conquest Dacia.

• 5. Cultural Traditions And Social Structure

  ›

  Traditional Romanis place high value extended family structures maintaining close kinship bonds always. Virginity essential unmarried women though Eastern Europeans find acceptable girls sex before marriage sometimes. Both men women usually marry young creating controversy child marriage practices several countries globally. Romani law amongst Kalaidzhi establishes man's family must pay bride price parents traditionally followed only. Once married woman joins husband's family tending children's needs caring in-laws daily responsibilities. Power structure traditional household tops oldest man grandfather generally holding authority over others. Women gain respect power getting older starting gaining authority once having children themselves. Some Romani men wear shoulder-length hair mustache earring historically displayed paintings photos frequently. Xoraxane Romani women often dye blonde henna maintaining distinctive cultural appearance standards today. Cooking done outdoors open fires using hunted foraged ingredients aligning natural world desires. Many English historically lived traveled countryside vardos while others settled urban areas permanently now. Most vast majority settled live houses modern times replacing nomadic lifestyles completely. Childbirth considered impure occurring outside dwelling place mother deemed impure forty days after giving birth. Death affects whole family remaining impure period time contrasting cremation burial customs strictly enforced.

• 6. Music And Artistic Influence

  ›

  Romani music plays important role central eastern European countries Croatia Bosnia Serbia Montenegro Bulgaria Macedonia Albania Hungary Slovakia Slovenia Romania specifically. Style performance practices influenced European classical composers Franz Liszt Johannes Brahms significantly throughout history. Lăutari performing Romanian weddings virtually all Romani musicians representing tradition globally recognized internationally. Taraful Haiduciors among most prominent contemporary performers lăutari tradition currently active worldwide. Bulgaria popular wedding music almost exclusively performed Romani musicians like Ivo Papasov clarinetist virtuoso genre. Georges Cziffra Hungarian pianist famous classical musician also identified as Romani heritage himself. Zdob și Zdub Moldova rock band draws heavily Romani music influences though not Romanies themselves. Fanfare Ciocărlia brass bands Romania Boban Marković Serbia achieve national local acclaim regularly. Distinctive sound strongly influenced bolero jazz flamenco cante jondo Spain especially deeply. Antonio Cansino blended Romani Spanish flamenco creating modern-day Spanish dance styles successfully. Dancing Cansinos popularized flamenco bolero United States Rita Hayworth granddaughter credited artistic legacy. European-style gypsy jazz Sinti jazz widely practiced original creators acknowledged debt guitarist Django Reinhardt. Stochelo Rosenberg Biréli Lagrène Jimmy Rosenberg Paulus Schäfer Tchavolo Schmitt known internationally today.