History and origin

Many assumptions have been formulated regarding the origin of Roma people and only the inherited linguistic facts justify their Indian origin.
Actually, it has still remained an unknown fact why the ancestors of Roma have left their dwellings in the northwestern India. They began to move towards the west during the XI century.
Various stories and legends shed light on potential explanations such as:

The Roma teacher Latif Kazanxhi says that after long wars for the independence of India, fighting against Moslem invaders in the vicinity of Traime, the ancestors of Roma, who constituted an aristocratic caste of warriors, were forced to leave their country. The Roma people in Balkans were settled in specific groups or they were brought by the Turkish armies, in which they formed specific units for the production of powder and weapons. According to an Ottoman registration of the year 1523, there is some data for the settlement of Roma in Albania. Some 374 Roma families were estimated, but it is presumed they had come 200-300 years before this registration. According to the professor Shuaip Isufi, in the III century BC, in India lived a powerful king called Roma, who really loved his people. After his death, common people wrote poems for him, which later created the epos Romajama. 220 best verses were selected out of this epos and they were sung in temples. In this way, the myth of Ramizim sprung up. The people who embraced this religion were called Ramist and later they were called Roma.

Symbols

The Roma nation has its Anthem and Flag at an international level. These symbols were declared in the First Roma Congress that was held in London, in April 1971.

The Roma participants from 22 various countries unanimously decided the day of 8 April as the international day of Roma. They raised the Roma flag, half green (symbol of land) and half blue (symbol of sky) and a red wheel was in the middle, representing the movement. The Roma Anthem is “Gelem, Gelem” (I went, I went).
Four World Roma Congresses have been held so far. There, it was decided to use the term Roma instead of other terms that were used until that period and the use of the alphabet of Roma language as well.

Confusion

Many Albanians often confuse Roma community with the Egyptian community (which in the slang language are often called gypsies). This community differs from Roma, as it does not have its own native language. Their origin is thought to be from Egypt and they are settled only in urban areas.
In general, the term ROMA causes confusions to the non Roma people. In this context, many people think that Roma have come from Romania or are related to Rome, the capital of Italy.

Roma celebration days

-- 8 April, the Day of Roma Nation is celebrated all over the world by various ceremonies: meetings and symposia, music, carnivals, rituals along the river shore, throwing flowers, lighting candles etc.
-- 6 May, the Feast of Saint Gjergj (George) is celebrated by getting together, having dinners and enjoying music. They come out at 3 a clock in the morning, wash themselves in the river “as their life may run, just like the river runs”.

There are four Roma family groups : Meçkar, Karbuxhinj, Kurtof and Cergar.
The family group Meçkar is primarily settled in Myzeqe, Tirana and Berat; the family group of Karbuxhi is settled in Korça, Fush Kruja, Tirana, Elbasan and Pogradec (it is presumed they had come in Albania from Greece); the family group Kurtof is broadly settled in Lezha, Shkodër (they are basically settled in the northern part of Albania, because they have come from Montenegro); the family group Cergar is settled in Berat, Elbasan, Delvina, Saranda and Gjirokastër (it is presumed they had come in Albania from Greece). However, the numerous movements have made those family groups scatter even in other parts of Albania.

Roma culture

The Roma culture has many oriental shades, due to their Indian origin.
Many people imagine Roma as vagrant persons, sly salesmen or famous fortune tellers. In reality, only a few people may be able to know their true spirit, when speaking to them. They may not be rich in money, but they are rich in spirit.

Often, we gaxhenjt (non- Roma people) pass by and see with curiosity and fear those people worn in a different manner, speaking another language, even though we live in the same country. You can barely see them smile you back in the street. It is very difficult to speak to them. Even if you tend to speak to them expressing something unpleasant, they adjust an indifferent attitude, as if they want to protect themselves from any potential attack.

In fact, we have never managed to know these people with the freest spirit in the world. For the sake of their own freedom, they have not submitted to any law, king or regime for running centuries. They have paid a very high price for this freedom, living in extreme poverty, under various prejudices. They are amazing people, gifted for music and dancing. They live the moment and don’t care for the opinion of others. They like to domesticate bears and horses, they like to travel and be mysterious. They like colors and they are very romantic people.

When asked if Roma are like the running river or like the wind, the Roma journalist Ramazan Mile answered that Roma are like the wind, because the river has limits, which imprison it inside its bed.
If there are three basic elements to live: air, sun and water, Roma need a fourth element, the music- he says. The symbolic animal for Roma is the bear. According to an old legend, a young woman had gotten pregnant and she jumped in the river to drown herself, but a bear saved her life. Thus, the bear became the dearest animal for Roma people.
The Roma man loves freedom more than he has to. He leads a modest life, but is quite rich in spirit. Often the Roma people seem to have a difficult character and it is very hard to communicate with them, as poverty hardens the soul. Roma people are the greatest smokers in the world, because tobacco quenches the thirst.
Last but not least, Roma are excellent salesmen, although they have never studied economics, finances or marketing.

Religious belief

Historically, Roma have been converted to the religion of the country where they had settled.
Finally, I would like to end this brief presentation, by appealing to all of you who used to have an unfriendly attitude towards Roma, to be more tolerant and try first to know those people you prejudice. Before accusing any Roma man cramming in the bus that he stole your wallet, check your bag or pocket.

I would like to say to all of you, Roma people that Amaro Drom believes in your efforts towards integration and development. We believe in your values and capacities, we believe in your self- organization and self- initiatives. We believe that you are the only ones that can do something for the improvement of the situation. We believe in you .

I express my thanks to all persons, who were involved in various interviews and conservations for the preparation of this material.

Albanian Roma Union “Amaro Drom”