Let’s Talk: An appropriation of Roma culture?

Chronicle and photographs from the event
About this Talk
On April 8, the world marks International Roma Day. The date is widely seen as an opportunity to celebrate Roma culture, but also to raise awareness of the issues concerning around 15 million Roma people worldwide and to highlight the discrimination that the community faces in different areas of life.

In Kosovo, it marks one of the rare days during the year when politicians mention or address the Roma community living in the country. Progressive laws, papers and documents are presented and declared as success stories of institutional engagement.

But scenes of Roma neighborhoods with vivid pictures of extreme poverty, marginalization and social and economic outcasting call into question how much of these grand speeches is in reality translated into inclusiveness, acceptance and fighting racism.

There is still no justice done to commemorate the fight for the recognition of Roma culture, history and rights — the core of International Roma Day. The rich culture, being one of the most important features of the Roma community, is usually reduced to the music that audiences appreciate from time to time.

In our latest Let’s Talk participative discussion, we ask: Has International Roma Day lost its meaning in Kosovo? Is an appropriation of Roma culture taking place in Kosovar society? Is wider society only consuming Roma culture, particularly the music, while allowing the people to whom this culture belongs to be treated as second class citizens? How can we hold relevant institutions accountable for not addressing the issues that Roma citizens face socially, politically and economically?

Join us at 18:00 on Thursday, April 4 at K2.0’s space for an open and participative discussion, where we will tackle all these questions and more. We’ve invited a few people along to help get the conversation started:
- Denis Galushi – Journalist and activist
- Avni Mustafa – Executive Director at Roma Vesitas Kosovo
- Habit Hajredini – Director of the Office for Good Governance
- Sakibe Jashari – Anthropologist/ Program Officer of ROMACTED at Council of Europe
The discussion will be moderated by K2.0’s Dafina Halili.K

*Translation available (Romani/English/Albanian)

This K2.0 Let’s talk Edition is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy.
Watch this edition now
LIVE: Hajde Folim për përvetësimin e kulturës rome Në diskutimin më të fundit të Hajde Folim, pyesim: A e ka humbur kuptimin Dita Ndërkombëtare e Romëve në Kosovë? A po ndodh përvetësimi i kulturës rome në Kosovë? A po e konsumon shoqëria kulturën rome, veçanërisht muzikën, e në të njëjtën kohë po lejon që po ata persona që i takojnë kësaj kulture të trajtohen si qytetarë të klasës së dytë? Si mund t’i mbajmë përgjegjëse institucionet përkatëse për mos adresimin e çështjeve që qytetarët romë i përjetojnë në mënyrë shoqërore, politike dhe ekonomike?Nëse dëshironi t'i bashkoheni bisedës, leni pyetjet tua në koment!

Posted by KOSOVO 2.0 on Thursday, April 4, 2019
About the speakers
Denis Galushi

Denis Galushi is a journalist from Prizren. He has graduated with a bachelors in Mass Communication and Journalism from AAB in Prishtina. He currently works as a journalist at RTK. Denis writes poetry and has been a part of the Roma Theater in Prizren for six years. He is also volunteering for several NGO’s, working on human rights and culture.

Sakibe Jashari

Sakibe Jashari is a Chevening scholar who graduated in Anthropology from the University of Sussex, with a focus on the anthropology of reconciliation. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree from LSE in London and has extensive work experience in community affairs, transitional justice and human rights.

Avni Mustafa

Avni Mustafa was born in Plemetina, Kosovo. As a young activist, he started his career working as a manager for a local NGO, Romano Resaipe. Avni is a human rights activist, educator, journalist and author. He is currently the executive director of the Roma Versitas Kosovo NGO, and has been involved in a multitude of NGO’s and projects.

Habit Hajredini

Habit Hajredini was born in Prizren, Kosovo. He is the National Coordinator for Human Rights, leader of the National Council for Civil Society Cooperation, and is the main coordinator for the implementation of the strategy for the integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo for the period 2017-2022.