Am 14.5. 2023 findet in Lety bei Písek (Tschechien) eine Gedenkveranstaltung statt. Zwischen 1942 und 1943 befand sich in Lety ein Konzentrationslager für Sinti*ize und Rom*nja. Über 300 Menschen der Minderheit wurden dort ermordet, die anderen ins Konzentrationslager Auschwitz-Birkenau deportiert. Insgesamt waren in Lety über 1200 Menschen interniert. Nach dem Krieg wurde das Gelände geschliffen. […]
Kostas Hatzis (Greek: Κώστας Χατζής) (born August 13, 1936) is a Greek singer-songwriter and musician of Romany Origin. He is considered one of the most significant composers and a pioneer in the Greek social song, popularising the „voice-guitar“ style, making ballads with social messages heard
Abstract from Wikipedia
In this Song, Kostas Hatzis describes the view of Tourists and the Majority with whom they mostly view Roma, through the eyes of a Roma child.
Newborn sprouts dirty washed away in the waters of the world he hasn’t learned how to read a book, our people call him a „gypsy kid“ he hasn’t learned how to read a book, our people call him a „gypsy kid“ he hasn’t learned how to read a book, our people call him a „gypsy kid“
Gipsy Kid, dance some belly dance for us in order to eat a bit of this bread And he, having learned to perform like a monkey bites the chain he’s been tied with. Gipsy Kid, dance some belly dance for us in order to eat a bit of this bread in order to eat a bit of this bread, gypsy kid, dance som belly-dance for us
During the evening, in the big square, he was arrested for begging for money from some delicate tourists who seemed more like artists from some delicate tourists who seemed more like artists Who seemed more like artists than some delicate tourists!
Gipsy kid, people can see you, we are going to make ourselves ridiculous in front of Europe! Gipsy kid, no more than four feet tall, who made you a beggar? Gipsy kid, people can see you, we are going to make ourselves ridiculous in front of Europe! We are going to make ourselves ridiculous in front of Europe! Gipsy kid, people can see you
Master, if you give me two pennies, I will jump up and down fifteen times Master, if you give me a cigarette, I’ll sit down to smoke it like a monkey Master, if you give me two pennies, I will jump up and down fifteen times Master, if you give me a cigarette, I’ll sit down to smoke it like a monkey
Master, you are the one who makes me dance, you made me a beggar! You made me a beggar! Master, you are the one who makes me dance!
While there are many famous Romany Artists from Greek, which are known as ambassadors of Greek Culture, the 2019 Pew Research poll found that 72% of Greeks held unfavorable views of Roma.
* The name Gypsy (Gyftos=Γύφτος) sometimes used for the Romani people was first given to them by the Greeks, who supposed them to be Egyptian in origin
The 16th of may as well as the 2th of august is an very importand date of Rememberance for all Roma worldwide. It remindes to an act of resistance by the romany inmates of the Nazi Deathcamp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Romani Resistance Day, commemorates this courageous revolt and also the suffering of Romani people during the period of the Nazi regime’s rule in Europe. The Holocaust in romany language is called Pharrajimos (devouring) or Samudaripen (mass murder).
On 16 May, 1944, Roma imprisoned in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp rebelled against their captors. 16 May, Romani Resistance Day, commemorates this courageous revolt and also the suffering of Romani people during the period of the Nazi regime’s rule in Europe. Unfortunately, the significance or even the existence of this day and the events it recalls are scarcely recognized. We live in hard times, when the labels of being different, of being a migrant, of being a Roma are among the hardest to carry. When we organize cultural events to remember the past, we must think about the needs of our communities in the present.
Kerav Divano 