Roma people in Serbia
Encyclopedia
Roma are one of the ethnic minorities
in Serbia
, Emperor of Serbs and Greeks donated some "Gypsy" slaves to the Monastery of Prizren, in Kosovo.
{|
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Census
(Year)
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1866 || style="text-align:right;"| 24,607 (2.02%)
|-
| 1895 || style="text-align:right;"| 46,000 (1.84%)
|-
| 1948 || style="text-align:right;"| 52,181
|-
| 1953 || style="text-align:right;"| 58,800
|-
| 1961 || style="text-align:right;"| 9,826
|-
| 1971 || style="text-align:right;"| 49,894
|-
| 1981 || style="text-align:right;"| 110,956 (1.19%)
|-
| 1991 || style="text-align:right;"| 138,799 (1.21% - SRF Yugoslavia)
|-
| 2002 || style="text-align:right;"| 108,193 (1.44% - Serbia & Montenegro)
|-
|}
rule in the 16th century. In Ottoman times, they mostly lived in the towns and cities, but also in the villages, usually in their separate quarters called "cigan-mala". They usually were forgers, manger makers or musicians. Especially large number of Romanis settled in the area in the 17th and 18th century, when Austrian
authorities issued several provisions about Romani (in 1761, 1767, and 1783). During the 1848/1849 revolution
, Romanis were on the side of the Serbs. During World War II
, Romani people, together with Serbs
and Jews
, were persecuted by Axis
authorities, thus many Romanis participated in anti-fascist struggle against Axis occupation.
Living in the multiethnic region of Vojvodina, Romani people are integrated with other ethnic groups, especially with Serbs
, Romanians
and Hungarians, thus, depending of the group with which they are integrated, Roma are usually known as Serbian Roma, Romanian Roma, Hungarian Roma, etc.
Serbian
Roma:
Romanian
Roma:
Hungarian Roma:
or Balkan Egyptians (Gjupci). The Serbian Roma were targeted by Kosovo Albanians (Kosovo Liberation Army
) with the Serbs during the Kosovo War
as being allied with Serbs and Serbian national interests. The Albanian Roma mostly sided with Albanians and fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army but many were targeted after the Kosovo War.
Kosovo Liberation Army
(Kosovo Albanians) expelled 90,000 Roma from Kosovo, forcing them to take refuge in central Serbia, but many of them returned to Kosovo . 100,000 to 120,000 Roma live in present-day Kosovo (150,000 before 1999)
Serbian
Roma:
Polylingual:
Albanian
Roma:
Croat Roma:
There are also Turkish
Roma (Horahane
)
After the war and encouraged by the international community, the label Roma, Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptians and its abbreviation RAE became more common. Whereas the Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptians maintain their distinct origin, this is sometimes contested by Kosovo Roma who claim that all three groups are actually Roma subgroups.
, In October 2005 the first text on the grammar of the Romani language in Serbia was published by linguist Rajko Djuric, titled "Gramatika e Rromane čhibaki - Граматика ромског језика".
Besides Serbian, they speak the language of other people they have been influenced by; Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian etc.
Demographics of Serbia
The demographics of Serbia have been shaped by its unique geographic location. Situated in the middle of the Balkans, many different ethnic groups are citizens of Serbia. Serbs are overwhelmingly the largest ethnic group in the country. Furthermore, Albanians have represented the largest minority...
in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
History
The first reference to the Romani people in Serbia is found in a 1348 document, by which Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of SerbiaStefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia
Stephen Uroš IV Dušan the Mighty , was the King of Serbia and Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks until his death on 20 December 1355. Dušan managed to conquer a large part of Southeast Europe, becoming one of the most powerful monarchs in his time...
, Emperor of Serbs and Greeks donated some "Gypsy" slaves to the Monastery of Prizren, in Kosovo.
Population
There are 108,193 Roma in Serbia, but unofficial estimates put the figure at between 450,000 and 500,000.{|
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Census
(Year)
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1866 || style="text-align:right;"| 24,607 (2.02%)
|-
| 1895 || style="text-align:right;"| 46,000 (1.84%)
|-
| 1948 || style="text-align:right;"| 52,181
|-
| 1953 || style="text-align:right;"| 58,800
|-
| 1961 || style="text-align:right;"| 9,826
|-
| 1971 || style="text-align:right;"| 49,894
|-
| 1981 || style="text-align:right;"| 110,956 (1.19%)
|-
| 1991 || style="text-align:right;"| 138,799 (1.21% - SRF Yugoslavia)
|-
| 2002 || style="text-align:right;"| 108,193 (1.44% - Serbia & Montenegro)
|-
|}
Vojvodina
First Romanis settled in the territory of present-day Vojvodina during OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule in the 16th century. In Ottoman times, they mostly lived in the towns and cities, but also in the villages, usually in their separate quarters called "cigan-mala". They usually were forgers, manger makers or musicians. Especially large number of Romanis settled in the area in the 17th and 18th century, when Austrian
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
authorities issued several provisions about Romani (in 1761, 1767, and 1783). During the 1848/1849 revolution
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
, Romanis were on the side of the Serbs. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Romani people, together with Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, were persecuted by Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
authorities, thus many Romanis participated in anti-fascist struggle against Axis occupation.
Living in the multiethnic region of Vojvodina, Romani people are integrated with other ethnic groups, especially with Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
and Hungarians, thus, depending of the group with which they are integrated, Roma are usually known as Serbian Roma, Romanian Roma, Hungarian Roma, etc.
Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
Roma:
- MachvayaMachvayaThe Machvaya are a group of Roma originating from Serbia . They are not an offshoot of the Kalderash Romani migration coupled with the war in the Balkans has meant there are an increased number of Machvaya living in other countries, specifically where there are an increased number of Serbs...
(Serbian Orthodox) - Kovači (Serbian Orthodox)
- Čergari (Serbian Orthodox)
Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
Roma:
- BoyashBoyashBoyash refers to a Romani ethnic group living in Romania, southern Hungary, northeastern Croatia, western Vojvodina, Slovakia, the Balkans, but also in the Americas and Australia. They are part of Romani branch of Roma...
(Serbian Orthodox) - UrsariUrsariThe Ursari or Richinara are the traditionally-nomad occupational group of animal trainers among the Roma people.An endogamous category originally drawing the bulk of its income from busking performances in which they used brown bears...
(Serbian Orthodox)
Hungarian Roma:
- Lovari (Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic)
- Romungro (Roman Catholic)
Central Serbia
The Roma in Central Serbia are predominantly Serbian Orthodox but a minority of Muslim Roma exists, mainly in the South.Kosovo
Roma in Kosovo are Serbian Roma (Serbian speaking, Orthodox and Muslim), polylingual Roma (Serbian and Albanian speaking) and Albanian Roma (Albanian speaking, Muslim) who self-identify as AshkaliAshkali
In the Balkans, the Ashkali and Egyptians are Albanian-speaking ethnic minorities of Kosovo and Albania. Observers consider them Albanized Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such...
or Balkan Egyptians (Gjupci). The Serbian Roma were targeted by Kosovo Albanians (Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
) with the Serbs during the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
as being allied with Serbs and Serbian national interests. The Albanian Roma mostly sided with Albanians and fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army but many were targeted after the Kosovo War.
Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
(Kosovo Albanians) expelled 90,000 Roma from Kosovo, forcing them to take refuge in central Serbia, but many of them returned to Kosovo . 100,000 to 120,000 Roma live in present-day Kosovo (150,000 before 1999)
Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
Roma:
- Kovaci (Serbian Orthodox)
- Cergari (Serbian Orthodox)
- Srpski Roma (Serbian Orthodox)
Polylingual:
- Arlije (MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
) - Mixed Roma
Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
Roma:
- Gurbeti (Muslim)
- Egyptians (Muslim
- AshkaliAshkaliIn the Balkans, the Ashkali and Egyptians are Albanian-speaking ethnic minorities of Kosovo and Albania. Observers consider them Albanized Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such...
(Muslim)
Croat Roma:
- Lipjan Roma (CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
) - Janjevo Roma (Catholic)
There are also Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
Roma (Horahane
Muslim Roma
Muslim Roma or Muslim Gypsies are Romani people who adopted Islam. Romanies have usually adopted the predominant religion of the host country. Islam among Romanies is historically associated with life of Romanies within the Ottoman Empire...
)
After the war and encouraged by the international community, the label Roma, Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptians and its abbreviation RAE became more common. Whereas the Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptians maintain their distinct origin, this is sometimes contested by Kosovo Roma who claim that all three groups are actually Roma subgroups.
Culture
The majority of Roma are Christian but the minority are Muslim but still preserve the tradition of Djurdjevdan.Language
They speak the Romani languageRomani language
Romani or Romany, Gypsy or Gipsy is any of several languages of the Romani people. They are Indic, sometimes classified in the "Central" or "Northwestern" zone, and sometimes treated as a branch of their own....
, In October 2005 the first text on the grammar of the Romani language in Serbia was published by linguist Rajko Djuric, titled "Gramatika e Rromane čhibaki - Граматика ромског језика".
Besides Serbian, they speak the language of other people they have been influenced by; Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian etc.
Notable Roma from Serbia
- Trifun Dimić, romologist.
- Dr. Raјko Đurić, professor, journalist, and politician.
- Srđan Šajn, politician.
- Janika Balaž, a famous tamburitza musician.
- Džej RamadanovskiDžej RamadanovskiDžej Ramadanovski is a popular Romani singer in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1989, he made a cameo appearance in the movie Hajde da se volimo 2, even performing one of his songs in the movie...
, folk singer. - Boža Nikolić, folk singer
- Sinan SakićSinan SakicSinan Sakić is a Serbian folk singer of Roma descent. He launched his career back in 1978 with the singles "Rastanak kraj reke" and "Sreli smo se mnogo kasno". As of 2006, he has released 27 music albums. He gained his first musical experience from his father who was a musician in the military...
, folk singer - Ljuba Aličić, folk singer
- Šaban BajramovićŠaban Bajramovic-Biography:He was born in Niš where he attended primary school for only the first four years. On quitting school, he picked up his musical education on the street.When he was 19 he ran away from the army out of love for a girl...
, famous folk/jazz singer - Usnija Redžepova, folk singer
Further reading
- Dr. Rajko Đurić, Istorija Roma, Beograd, 2006.