Romatopia

09/03/2022

❗️ Human Rights Update on Ukraine ❗️
Read more in this article from Jonathan Lee 👉🏽 http://www.errc.org/news/ukrainian-roma-face-segregation-poor-conditions-and---without-documentation---nowhere-to-go

Roma from Ukraine who have availed themselves of Moldova’s open border, which allows them to enter the country even without documentation, are now finding themselves in ethnically segregated reception centres with poor living conditions and not enough food to go around.

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) has visited three separate reception centres used almost exclusively to accommodate Romani refugees, as well as a small number of other ethnic minorities. An ERRC human rights monitor estimated that more than 90% of those housed in each centre were of Romani origin Moldova’s policy of bringing busloads of ethnic minorities from the Ukrainian border, housing them in ethnically segregated centres (often in poor conditions), and then bussing them to the next border as soon as possible appears to be discriminatory.

29/08/2021

Lesenswert: fluter.de über die kulturellen Einflüsse von Sinti und Roma auf Europa

Das RomArchive macht sichtbar, was in der Kulturgeschichte oft vergessen wird: die kulturellen Einflüsse von Sinti und Roma

11/08/2021

OUT NOW: EXTRA EPISODE
In the 12 episodes of this podcast, we talked to Roma from all over Europe - and beyond - about their lives, their experiences and their utopias. We have been surprised, challenged, inspired, entertained and gifted. In this extra episode, we revisit our encounters with all these wonderful people, reminisce and discuss our own utopias. Thanks to all our inspiring and wonderful guests - and, of course, to our listeners. It was a wonderful journey!
> Listen here to the new episode: https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/14-13-extra-episode-revisit-romatopia

25/05/2021

In this episode, we are honoured to welcome one of the icons of the Sinti and Roma civil rights movement as a guest on our podcast: Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma. We talk to him about his youth in the shadow of Auschwitz, his unrelenting fight for the civil rights of the Sinti and Roma and about his childhood in his parents' cinema and his abiding love of the movies.

Wir haben die Ehre, eine Ikone der Bürgerrechtsbewegung der Sinti und Roma als Gast in unserem Podcast zu begrüßen: Romani Rose, Vorsitzender des Zentralrats Deutscher Sinti und Roma. Wir sprechen mit ihm über seine Jugend im Schatten von Auschwitz, seinen unnachgiebigen Kampf für die Bürgerrechte der Sinti und Roma und über seine Kindheit im Lichtspieltheater seiner Eltern und seine bleibende Liebe zum Kino.

With / mit: Romani Rose, Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma in Deutschland

20/05/2021

Have you already had the chance to listen to our latest episode with Lindy?
Lindy Larsson Forss is an actor and singer from Sweden. He performs at renowned stages in Sweden and Germany and is the singer of the orchestra Lindy & the Bon Bon Band.
We talked about superheroes with a Romani background, about mermaids 🧜‍♀️, dogs 🐕 and Lindys spirit aninal: the wolve 🐺.
We also talked about the cruelties Roma have had to endure in Sweden.
We get to know an inspiring, fragile, wise, open and proud person.
is the remarkable guest in episode 11 of our podcast ROMATOPIA. Don't miss it!

30/04/2021

Lindy Larsson Forss has enchanted us! Bill Bila and Isabel Raabe talk with Lindy about superheroes with a Romani background, about mermaids, dogs and other animals. They also talk about the cruelties Roma have had to endure in Sweden. We get to know an inspiring, fragile, wise, open and proud person. Thank you, Lindy, for this wonderful new episode.
https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/12-11-about-mermaids-superheroes-and-coming-outs-with-lindy-larsson-forss

26/04/2021

In our latest episode, Timea Junghaus told us about her most vivid childhood memory - it's very poetic and very funny. Have a listen, we have prepared a little snippet for you.
You'll find the whole episode here: https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/11-10-the-power-of-roma-art-with-timea-junghaus
with: Isabel Raabe and William Bila

16/04/2021

Episode No. 10: out now! In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Timea Junghaus, executive director of European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture - ERIAC, a renowned "Roma Art" expert on the topic of Roma in European art history and the power and potential of contemporary Roma art. Timea talks openly about her successful school career and her difficult university years, her successes as a curator and scholar, and what it's like to accept an award barefoot on stage. We enjoyed this conversation very much. We hope, you do so, too!

08/04/2021

Romatopia celebrates the World Roma Day! April 8 marks the 50th anniversary of the first World Roma Congress in London. A milestone in the development of Romani civil rights work and cultural empowerment. Let's celebrate! There is still much work to be done!

29/03/2021

Our guest in episode #9 is the immensely impressive social worker, activist and fighter for human and women's rights Nicoleta Bitu. Her life's work is admirable! Don't miss this wonderful conversation with her, Isabel Raabe and Bill Bila:
https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/10-9-the-power-of-roma-feminism-with-nicoleta-bitu

16/03/2021

OUT NOW: episode 8 (please find the link in the comments to this post):

Ihre künstlerischen Arbeiten sind widerständig, aktivistisch, feministisch. In dieser Folge sprechen wir mit den zwei beeindruckenden Schauspielerinnen, Regisseurinnen und Aktivistinnen Sandra Selimovic und Simonida Selimovic. Wir haben mit den Schwestern über Aktivismus, Kunst und Familie gesprochen, einen Songtext geschenkt bekommen und viel gelacht.

Their artistic works are resistant, activist, feminist. In this episode we talk to the two impressive actresses, directors and activists Sandra and Simonida Selimović. We talked about activism, art and family, got song lyrics as a gift and laughed a lot.

Mit: Isabel Raabe und Bill Bila

09/03/2021

Lawyer and activist Saimir Mile is our wonderful guest in episode 07 of our podcast ROMATOPIA. Have you already had the chance to listen to it? ▶️ https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/8-7-romani-is-a-passport-with-saimir-mile

01/03/2021

Out now: Ep07 with the lawyer and activist Saimir Mile (La Voix des Rroms) - Learn more from this sharp and witty mind discussing language, activism, resistance and empowerment with William Bila and Isabel Raabe: https://romatopia-podcast.podigee.io/8-7-romani-is-a-passport-with-saimir-mile

22/02/2021

Have you already had the chance to listen to our latest episode with the great theatre director, actor and art historian Miguel Ángel Vargas? Don't miss it, he's so inspiring!

19/02/2021

We remember your names:
Ferhat Unvar
Hamza Kurtović
Said Nesar Hashemi
Vili Viorel Păun
Mercedes Kierpacz
Kaloyan Velkov
Fatih Saraçoğlu
Sedat Gürbüz
Gökhan Gültekin
We will not forget you. Let's stand up against racism and xenophobia, not only today, but every day.

12/02/2021

NEW EPISODE: With Miguel Angel Vargas, actor and art historian from Seville, we talk about flamenco, the soundtrack of his life. We learn why "Gitanismo" suddenly became fashion in Spain in the 18th century and we get to hear him sing, which even left our two hosts - Isabel Raabe and William Bila speechless for a moment. Thanks for being with us, Miguel! It was a pleasure and enlightening for us.

02/02/2021

Thanks for sharing, European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture - ERIAC !in case you missed it: Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum opened the exhibition "RESIST DIGITAL" with the moving artistic video works of artist and activist Selman Selma - you find the Kick-Off-Video on Youtube. More from the wonderful artist Selma Selman you'll find in episode 5 of our podcast.

28/01/2021

She is the Tito of her home village in Bosnia Herzegovina. She is THE up-and-coming young visual artist whose work is a must-see. And last but not least she is the founder of the "Get the Heck to School" Foundation, which enables young girls in her home country to go to school. In short, she is the fantastic Selma Selman. And she was our guest in episode 5 of our podcast ROMATOPIA with Isabel Raabe and Bill Bila. Out now! 🎧😎

27/01/2021

We remember. 🕯

18/01/2021

In episode 4 Bill Bila and Isabel Raabe talked with Kefaet Prizreni and Selamet Prizreni about how life as a young Roma in Essen, Germany was. They talked about school, discrimination and Hip Hop as a multicultural lifestyle. Here's a short snippet for those of you who haven't streamed the whole episode yet. These brothers are an inspiration and great entertainers! Don't miss it!

14/01/2021

What Roma and Jedi Knights have in common and many other smart and entertaining thoughts - now in our new episode with Kefaet Prizreni and Selamet Prizreni. Give it a listen! 🎤🎧😎

12/01/2021

In this episode we talk to the wonderful Hip Hop artists and brothers, Kefaet Prizreni and Selamet Prizreni about their deportation to Kosovo and how they made it back to Germany. They talk about the power of music and how Hip Hop saved them and they let us share their dreams of a better world - not only for Roma. Enjoy listening! (Please note: We held the conversation in German.)

27/12/2020

We hope you have had a nice and peaceful holiday so far. Here is a snippet from our latest Romatopia episode with the great Zeljko Jovanovic for you. We wish you a lot of fun while listening to it.

24/12/2020

🇩🇪🇫🇷🇹🇩🇧🇷🇧🇬🇧🇴🇧🇪🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇾 ... - We are overwhelmed. People in 28 countries all over the world have listened to one ore more episodes of ROMATOPIA so far. A big thank you to each and every one of you! We wish you happy holidays and a happy new year.

22/12/2020

Out now: Episode 3 with Zeljko Jovanovic
In episode 3 we talked to the tireless activist for Roma Rights Zeljko Jovanovic. We asked him about his youth, the fight for democracy, about how important it is for Europe when the Roma are doing well and about many other things. Enjoy listening!

16/12/2020

🇪🇺 DIASPORA EUROPE 🇪🇺 is the title of an exhibition at the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture - ERIAC Space in Berlin, which - because of the pandemic - opened virtually last night. At the exhibition you can also find our podcast ROMATOPIA – Roma talk about their Utopia for tomorrow’s Europe. We are very happy about the cooperation! Here you can find all information about the exhibition, the virtual opening and many other exciting things: https://eriac.org/diaspora-europe-eriac/

Contributors: Nicoleta Bitu | Mihaela Dragan | Ethel Brooks | Ismael Cortés Gómez | Dijana Pavlović | Iulius Rostas | Gilda-Nancy Horvath | Andre Raatzsch | Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka | Zeljko Jovanović | Timea Junghaus | Lindy Larsson | Miguel Angel Vargas Rubio | Gonzalo Montaño Peña | Roberto ...

13/12/2020

Have you already had the chance to listen to episode 2 with wonderful Ethel Brooks? Here's a short snippet. We hope you enjoy!

11/12/2020

These are our fantastic guests in season 1:
Daniel Baker, artist, curator, theorist (UK); Nicoleta Bitu, activist (Romania); Ethel Brooks, sociologist, gender studies (USA) ; Zeljko Jovanovic, Open Society Foundation/Roma Initiative Office (Serbia/Germany); Timea Junghaus, art historian, executive director European Roma Institute for Arts and Cultures (Hungary, Germany); Lindy Larsson, actor, singer (Sweden); Saimir Mile, activist, la Voix des Rroms (France / Albania); Selamet und Kefaet Prizreni, Hip Hop Musicians (Kosovo/Germany); Romani Rose, Chair of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma (Germany); Sandra and Semonida Selimovic, actrices (Austria); Selma Selman, artist (Bosnia); Miguel Angel Vargas, art historian, actor (Spain)

Dies sind unsere fantastischen Gäste der ersten Staffel:
Daniel Baker, Künstler, Kurator, Theoretiker (UK), Nicoleta Bitu, Soziologin, Aktivistin (Rumänien); Ethel Brooks, Soziologin, Gender Studies (USA) ; Zeljko Jovanovic, Jurist, Open Society Foundation/Roma Initiative Office (Serbien/Deutschland); Timea Junghaus, Kunsthistorikerin, European Roma Institute for Arts and Cultures (Ungarn, Deutschland); Lindy Larsson, Schauspieler, Sänger (Schweden); Saimir Mile, Aktivist, la Voix des Rroms (Frankreich/Albanien); Selamet und Kefaet Prizreni, Hip Hop Musiker (Deutschland/Kosovo); Romani Rose, Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma (Deutschland); Sandra und Semonida Selimovic, Schauspielerinnen (Österreich); Selma Selman, Künstlerin (Bosnien); Miguel Angel Vargas, Kunsthistoriker, Schauspieler (Spanien)

11/12/2020

"I am generous and outgoing, I love people, but I also have a deep sense of who I am and what I think is right. And I am really goofy as well.", is Ethel Brooks answer when we asked her to describe herself in one sentence. But there's so much more to discover talking to her: Among many other remarkable things, Ethel Brooks has managed to be asked by President Barack Obama to join the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. There she stands up for the memory of the murdered and for survivors to be heard. Find out what else she has achieved in Episode 2 of Romatopia!

10/12/2020

Out now: Episode 2 with Ethel Brooks
In episode 2 we talk to Ethel Brooks, who is Associate Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Sociology at Rutgers University in New Jersey and Tate-TrAIN Transnational Fellow at the University of the Arts London. Brooks also is a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and Chair of the European Roma Rights Centre. Last but not least she spoke at the General Assembly for the United Nations Holocaust Memorial. But convince yourself and listen to what she has to say! Thank you, Ethel Brooks! We enjoyed talking to you very, very much!