Who Are the Roma?
The Roma (often called Romani people) are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group who migrated from northern India to Europe approximately 1,000 years ago. Today, 10-12 million Roma live across Europe, with the largest populations in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. The Roma comprise diverse subgroups including Sinti, Kale, and Romanichal, speaking dialects of Romani, an Indo-Aryan language. For a millennium, the Roma have faced persecution, including slavery in Romania until 1856 and the Porajmos (Holocaust), which killed an estimated 500,000. Despite ongoing discrimination, Roma maintain rich cultural traditions.
Origins and Migration
Linguistic and genetic evidence traces Roma origins to the Indian subcontinent, likely among military or artisan castes. Migration westward occurred in waves, with Roma reaching Byzantium by the 11th century and spreading across Europe by the 15th century. Historical records called them "Egyptians" (source of "Gypsy") or "Bohemians," reflecting confusion about their origins. The Roma adapted to each region while maintaining core cultural elements including Romani language, family structures, and concepts of purity and pollution inherited from Indian caste traditions.
The Porajmos: The Forgotten Holocaust
Nazi Germany targeted Roma alongside Jews for genocide. Beginning with forced sterilizations and escalating to extermination, the Nazis murdered an estimated 500,000 Roma—perhaps 25% of Europe's Romani population—in the Porajmos ("the Devouring"). Roma were imprisoned in concentration camps, subjected to medical experiments, and killed in gas chambers. Yet this genocide received little recognition until recently. Germany only officially acknowledged it in 1982, and Roma were excluded from post-war compensation. Memory of the Porajmos remains central to contemporary Roma identity and advocacy.
Music and Arts
Roma have profoundly influenced European music—from Spanish flamenco to Hungarian csárdás, Balkan brass bands, and Django Reinhardt's jazz. Musical traditions, often accompanying wedding celebrations and festivals, pass through generations. Romani musicians developed distinctive styles while also adapting to local traditions, creating hybrid forms that enriched host cultures. Beyond music, Roma are known for metalworking, horse trading, fortune-telling, and crafts. These traditions reflect centuries of economic adaptation to marginalized circumstances while maintaining cultural identity.
Contemporary Challenges
Roma today remain Europe's most marginalized minority. Discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, and education persists. Roma children are disproportionately placed in segregated or special-needs schools. Romani settlements often lack basic services. Violence against Roma, including murders and mob attacks, continues. Yet Roma civil society has grown, with organizations advocating for rights and cultural preservation. The European Union has adopted Roma inclusion strategies, though implementation remains inadequate. A new generation of Roma intellectuals, artists, and activists is challenging both discrimination and internal patriarchal traditions.
References
- Hancock, I. (2002). We Are the Romani People
- Fonseca, I. (1995). Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey
- Kenrick, D. & Puxon, G. (2009). Gypsies Under the Swastika