Focus ROMI.HR

ROMA NEIGHBOURHOODS IN ISTANBUL

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

Istanbul is a tapestry of neighbourhoods shaped by history, migration, and urban change; among these are communities that have long identified as Roma, whose presence in the city spans centuries. These Roma neighbourhoods, from Sulukule near the old...

ROMANI GODI: ADVOCATING FOR ROMA IN TURKEY

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

Romani Godi, meaning "Roma Mind", is a non-profit organization (NGO) in Turkey committed to strengthening the social memory of the Roma community and combating inequality. Founded in early 2022 by a group of young activists under the slogan "Opre...

ZEUGMA’S TIMELESS ENIGMA

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

In the heart of Gaziantep, Turkey, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum houses one of the most captivating artifacts of the ancient world—the "Gypsy Girl" mosaic. Discovered in 1998 during excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma, this mosaic has become an...

KAKAVA FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF SPRING, HOPE AND ROMA CULTURE

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

Every May in the historic city of Edirne, Turkey, the Kakava Festival (Kakava Şenlikleri) comes alive with music, dance, and vibrant rituals. More than just a festive gathering, Kakava is a tradition deeply rooted in Roma culture—a celebration of...

A ROMA IN PRIME TIME: CENNET MAHALLESI

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

Cennet Mahallesi is one of the most memorable comedy series in Turkish television history. Set in a Roma neighborhood in Istanbul, the show follows the everyday lives, romances, and rivalries of two colorful families. With its mix of humor, music,...

SOIL AND WINGS: A QUIET LOOK INTO KANATLAR’S TURKISH-BEKTASHI COMMUNITY

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

As part of this year’s ZagrebDox International Documentary Film Festival, I had the opportunity to watch Soil and Wings, a quiet and observational documentary that immerses viewers in the daily life of Kanatlar, a small village near the city of...

JASENOVAC: WHERE SILENCE SPEAKS OF SUFFERING

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

History leaves marks—not just in books and museums, but in landscapes, memories, and the silence that lingers long after the violence ends. My visit to the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia was one of those rare experiences where the past...

THE ROMA MEMORIAL CENTER IN UŠTICA

Autorica: Deniz Lal Secgin

The Roma Memorial Center Uštica opened on August 2, 2020, in the village of Uštica, near Jasenovac in central Croatia. It is the only museum in the world that focuses only on the genocide of Roma people during World War II. The memorial honors the...

A HISTORY OF RESEARCH ON THE ROMANI LANGUAGE - DIALECTOLOGY

Author: Anna Krainova

In the 20th century, Romani dialectology actively developed, and territorial variations in the language were studied. In 1915, the British researcher Bernard Gilliat-Smith, studying Romani dialects in Bulgaria, proposed in his articles a division of...