This is a part number two of my journal about Gypsies (Roma). I hope that it will not make you dizzy, but there are really many, MANY Roma communities and it’s quite hard to present them clearly, especially because their names vary and even the same name could be used accordingly to two or more drastically distinct groups. This is not going to be absolutely complete list of Roma communities – this is not a task for one life, but it consists of the most important, significant and interesting groups. Believe me or not but they are many and you’ll find it during reading.
If you want me to describe some other ones – just let me know and I will try to do my best to help you. OK, now I’m going to do the rest: sth about Roma culture (and music of course) that will be presented in part three.
Anyway, have a nice reading and let me know if you like it or have any questions.
There are about 8-10 million Roma people nowadays. More precise estimations are not possible, especially because most of them have no identity documents and isn’t registered at any place. This makes difficult not only estimating the number of Roma people, but also prevents from successful aid projects.
Most of Roma people live in Central and Eastern Europe. Estimations show, that most of them live in Romania (1,8-2,5 mln; 535 140 – census from year 2002). Second are Spain (600 000-800 000) and Bulgaria (550 000-800 000; 370 908 – census from year 2001), then Slovakia (500 000), Hungary (500 000; 190 046 – census 2001), Russia (182 766; census 2002), Greece (105 899 – census), Albania (70 000 – census), Croatia (67 950; census), Macedonia (53 879 – census 2002), Poland (15 000-50 000), the Ukraine (47 587 – census 2001) and former Bosnia and Hercegovina (17 000). Important groups of Roma exist also in Slovenia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Moldova and France, UK, Portugal, USA, Canada. A large group of Indian Gypsies live in Iran, also of Gypsies living on the northern coasts of Africa, descendants of slaves brought to plantations in Brazil and criminals sent to Australia.
Depending on the country and region it’s possible to distinguish many groups of Roma people. Not always it is possible to name them as clans or family groups. Sometimes these are only groups that found themselves at a certain place after a journey through a number of countries. One of the most important factors that made it possible to Roma people to survive is their ability to use achievements of encountered countries and societies. It is clearly visible when investigating their language, beliefs and music. There are a lot of elements derived from many cultures, but usually used in an unconventional and original, characteristic of Roma way. These elements form differences between Roma groups in various regions and are the reason of existence of a large collection of names for Roma and of Roma descendants groups.
The biggest group of Roma people is Keldari (Kałderasza, Kalderari, Gelderari), which in Romani means “tinker”. They came from Romania and Moldova, from where they escaped after the slavery period. Part of them moved at the turn of the 20th century to USA, where they were blacksmithing copper, repairing industrial devices (eg. in bakeries, confectioneries and laundries). Many Keldari live today in Poland. This is the “most nomadic” group, that likes to travel, have extensive social and trade contacts. Because of their job, so the tinkery, repairing, covering with protective layer and producing boilers and frying pans Keldari is also one of the richest groups, the more so because their products are today quite popular.
Keldari were always fighting for the first place with Lovara, Lowari (Romani „horsemen”). Representatives of this community live in Hungary, Romania, Poland, France, Germany, Italy and Greece. Their occupation were horse, mule and donkey breeding and training. The same function were performing till the end of WW1 the emigrants from UK to USA from year about 1850, called Romanichal (Romnichal, Romnichel, Rom’nies). In those times there was a big demand for horses of burden. But with the grow of importance of motor industry, horse and mule breeding started to go downhill. Last of them disappeared in the south of USE about year 1982. Because of such economy trends, Romanichal started to weave baskets, produce and sell rustic furniture and fortune-telling.
During two migration waves (years 80. of 19th century till 1914 year and second half of the 20th century till 1986 year) many of Roms from various communities came flooding in the USA. Besides of aforementioned Romanichal there were also another groups like Machvaya (Machwaya, Machavaya) from county Matsva in Serbia, that settled themselves in Tucson (Arizona) and Hamilton (Ontario); Ludar from northern-west Bosnia, that were especially the animal trainers (esp. bears and monkeys) and acrobats. In the years 1925-1939 there existed some of Ludar camps in Queens county in New York and in Chicago suburbs. Apart from these groups there was also a little group of people in Pennsylvania called Chikkeners, other called as Black Dutchmen or Germans from Pennsylvania, that matched their origin – they were German Roms. Yet another group came from Russia, settled in New York and was called Rusniakuria. There were also Hungarian Gypsies from Hungary that lived only in Hungarian and Slovakian settlements. Both Rusniakuria and Hungarian Gypsies were musicians.
Today many of Roma people live in Hungary and that’s why there are so much Hungarian Roma groups. Two most important ones are Boyash and Romungro. Boyasch are descendants of Rudari (Rudars), miners from Romania, also working as gold-diggers and producers of wooden spoons, plates, troughs and spindles. Rudari don’t use Romani language, but Romanian what is also a characteristic for their descendants, wide spread in Europe and both Americas Ludar (Ludari, Lingurari, Blidari) and Boyash (Bayash, Beyash, Banyash, Beás). Rudari were also before miners in Romania, but rather slaves there, forced to renunciation of their own language and use Romanian. Today this kind of Romanian exists in its archaic form – Bojaši, shaped under the strong influence of Hungarian and full of Roma borrowings. What’s particularly interesting in it is that Bojaši didn’t undergo great language reforms of the 19th century, so now it’s a perfect source for comparison of modern and old languages. Also because of language barriers, communication between communities using Bojaši and rest of society is very difficult.
There are about 140 settlements of Boyash in central Serbia and Montenegro, 30 in historical region of Banat and 7 in region Bačka in Vojvodina. These are mainly estimated data. It is even harder to specify the number of Boyash people, also because of the language problems. It exists a program of teaching Boyash Romanian, but with no significant successes as by now. It’s only possible to learn Boyash in the regions of Banat and Bačka. In year 2004 twenty people were learning Romanian in two institutions. Outside from Hungary and Serbia Boyash form little communities in Croatia and in Bulgaria, where they’re still called Rudari, similar as in Romania, where exists also another name Băeşi. Yet other name is Karavlasi or simply Romanian Gypsies.
Radically else origin have Romungro, Hungarian Gypsies, in Hungarian Cigány. It is the most significant and oldest Gypsy community in Hungary, that is living there for more than 600 years now. These people are so strongly assimilated with local society, that they’ve lost some of their anthropological characteristics. Romungro uses now only Hungarian language. Traditionally they are musicians and, however they have never caused any problems and live here for so long time, they still are discriminated, both by the rest of society and government. A group that really causes problems is Olassi Cigány (Olah), Roma people who escaped from Romania after the slavery was lifted.
To groups that inhabit Eastern and Central Europe belong also two other communities, particularly bound with Poland. Besides of already described Keldari and Lowari, in Poland exist also two another groups: Polish upland Gypsies and Polish lowland Gypsies. Other name for Polish upland Gypsies is Polska Roma. In their language there are many words from German, their Surnames are mainly Polish and they sometimes leave for short journeys. Anthropologically and socially they are very close to German and Russian lowland Gypsies. Similarly Polish upland Gypsies are close to Ukrainian and Slovakian Gypsies. Other names for Polish upland Gypsies are Cyganie karpaccy (Gypsies from Carpathian Mountains), Bergitka Roma, Nasi Cyganie (Our Gypsies). Polish upland Gypsies first came to Poland from south in centuries 15-16th and as first Gypsies they decided to lead a settled life. Nowadays this group lives mainly in the regions of Nowy Targ and Nowy Sącz. Their language have many words from Slovakian and Hungarian. Polish upland Gypsies mostly don’t remember and don’t cultivate Roma tradition and that’s why they are usually disrespected by other Roma groups. This group is also considered one of the poorest.
Very famous, especially because of their rich folklore are Roms from Spain – Gitanos. They reached Europe by traveling along northern coasts of Africa and now live mainly on Iberian Peninsula, in Northern Africa and southern France. Their language is quite specific – it’s Caló (originally Zincaló) with Spanish grammar and Roma words. Caló means dark, calé – dark (as people) and this is the source of another name of Gitanos with rather pejorative flavor: Calé. Caló itself, because some of Gitanos are imprisoned, strongly influenced prison and criminal jargons like Germanía. Also contemporary Spanish slang (eg. Quinquis) draws a lot from Caló. It is a very expressive language, especially because of elongated vowels, what is particularly visible in flamenco cante (singing). Gitanos, in France Gitans and in Italy Zinacrli, were always associated with music and entertainment. Besides, they also have an opinion of perfect breeders and trainers of horses, donkeys and mules.
Quite big group form Sinti (also: Sinte), named so probably because of their origin in province of Sindh in south of contemporary Pakistan. Nowadays they live mainly in Alsace and other regions of France, also Germany and Austria, where they live since Middle Ages. Previously mainly nomadic, today Sinti are mostly settled. They are divided in two main groups: Eftavagarja (Seven Carvans), that moved to France and assimilated with local Roma communities forming one group Manush; and second group Estraxarja (From Austria), that lives today in Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Transylvania, Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it seized local names. There are many Sinti who are or were famous musicians, like Django Reinhardt and Joe Zawinul.
Outside of Europe exist many other groups inhabiting Middle East and Northern Africa. Many of them are descendants of groups that stayed in the regions close to India and never led nomadic life. Some of them don’t consider themselves as Roma, like group Aptal from northern Syria, formed mainly of prestidigitators and illusionists. Other Roma communities arrived or more precise: came back to Asian and African regions from Europe, what was with Zargari, who came back to Iran and probably to Russia. Ghagar came to Egypt from Balkans or Hungary and first settled in Dakahlia region in Nile Delta, north from Cairo. Now they live in the cities in winter and form distinct group in Egypt. Men are usually blacksmiths, women are vocalists, they work in tattoo rooms, in circus (as line dancers).
Another Egyptian group of Roma is Nawar (also: Nuar, Nuri, Nawwar; Arabian blacksmith or fire worshipper). Outside of Egypt they live also in Gaza Strip, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel. The group of the same name existed already before 10th century, but there are no proofs for relations between them and contemporary Nawar, that call themselves Dom and use Domari language. In writings there are some mentions about bear trainers from Nawar group living in Europe and America in the 19th century and group that in the year 1976 came to Germany and France through Northern Africa. From Nawar derive Hanager, also living in Egypt, but they take part in criminal organizations and are probably hired as paid murders.
Radically other occupations have Halebi (also: Helebi; name derives most probably from town Aleppo, today Halab in northern-west Syria), who inhabited Egypt and Libya for ages. Many of them live today in Giza pyramid complex, areas around Cairo, along channels leading to Sakkara, Helwan, Sohag, Qina, Luxor and Asuan. Men trade animals and are veterinarians, women are fortune-tellers. Their language – Sim, is a “camouflaged” Arabian with a very little addition of Romani and Lugha.
Yet another group is Suzmani from Kurdistan. They live in a Kuchlag village, close to Senna. They are also known as Dummi and are in relation with Duman from Syria. Men are musicians, women – dancers.
Well, and I think it’s all about Roma (Gypsy) groups for now. There are many, many, many more of them and it is almost always possible to add something about each group or to divide bigger group into smaller ones and these smaller into even smaller ones, like in a fractal. I tried to present only some of the most significant, interesting or specific Roma groups. Some of them are presented only to show that Roma people live today all over the world, usually not as individuals but as groups. It is really interesting to find that such nation could vary in so huge scale. Even more interesting is to find connections between them. And when we’re talking about music – it’s fascinating, that no matter in which part of the world, you know that there is sth Gypsy in the music of any Roma group and it is really expressive.
A bit of significant Gypsy musicians:
Django Reinhardt
Joe Zawinul
Biréli Lagrène
Camarón de la Isla
Remedios Amaya
Diego el Cigala
Potito
Tomatito
Ketama
Gipsy Kings
DON VASYL
Ando Drom
Saban Bajramovic
Boban Markovic Orkestar
Esma Redzepova
Camarón de la Isla