Roma musicians discuss inclusion in larger Czech community · Global Voices
Roma music band Bengas. Photo by <PERSON>, used with permission granted by <PERSON>.
While Roma people are the largest ethnic minority in Czechia, comprising about 2.2 percent of its population, they are considered one of the most stigmatized and discriminated minorities in the nation. But even with the discrimination and undue stereotypes, the Roma people continue to have a huge social impact and are extremely prominent in Czechia's music scene.
This author conversed with representatives of Czechia's Roma music community about the prejudge and discrimination they face, the latest news of Roma oppression, and the borderless nature of music.
Roma minority and their social exclusion
Anti-Roma discrimination was brought to the forefront last month after a Romany man was killed by the police on June 19. The death triggered a wave of turmoil and protests within the Roma community as some Roma media compared the conflict to the <PERSON> murder in the United States. Although it was determined by forensic autopsy examination that the police were not responsible for the man's death, the case drew attention to tensions between the Czech majority and Roma national and ethnic minority.
These tensions are nothing new, particularly when it comes to Czechia's social and cultural dynamics. For instance, the Council of Europe (COE) recently noted, that many European school programs fail to acknowledge the Roma people in their curricula and many historical accounts related to the Roma are unobjective or incomplete and fall prey to stereotyping.
In its 2020 report, the COE recommended Czechia address the ongoing discrimination and prejudice against the Roma people by including their history in school textbooks and addressing the issue of propaganda and false information about Roma people on the internet and social media. They also warned Czechia regarding the lack of advancement on its Roma language programs, where elementary and high schools were supposed to offer Roma language classes. These initiatives are part of a 20-year plan to protect Roma people and Travellers and fight against racism, intolerance, and social exclusion.
Results of a June 2021 poll showed that 70 percent of respondents in Czechia expressed antipathy toward the Roma.
Roma musicians and their social inclusion
Roma music band Kale. 739
Photo used with permission granted by <PERSON>.
Despite the unpopularity and social exclusion of Roma as people, prevailing public opinion considers them a very musical nation.
<PERSON> from the band Bengas explains:
We are six musicians. We have no problem with fusion, the whole family plays some instrument. We play not only Romani-Gypsy folklore, but also a lot of Latin music, Balkan music (Kusturica or Bregovič), Russian Gypsy music, Polish songs, funk, soul, and of course such evergreens as <PERSON>.
Roma music is favorite among the general public, and world-famous Czech classical composers like <PERSON> or <PERSON> often included Roma melodies in their work. In recent years, Roma music can be found on almost every radio station, due to the popularity of the French Gypsy Kings or Czech-US band N.O.H.A., which are famous for their Roma-Latin style.
In the Czech pop music scene, there are a solid number of musicians of Roma origin, but they mostly sing mainstream melodies.
<PERSON> explains:
Czechs are a rock nation. Chinaski, Kabát — these are the leading Czech musicians, which is listened to by almost every Czech. <PERSON>, musician of Roma origin, is probably the only one who has established himself out of many Roma people.
<PERSON>, a Roma musician and long-term member of the bands Věra Bílá and Kale disagrees:
…on the Czech scene you can hear and see musicians of Roma origin, but they do not sing Roma music, but they rather are musically assimilated with Czech music or taste.
While live festivals throughout the country often feature Roma or Gypsy musicians, they are not included in many mainstream media channels.
<PERSON> reflected on the issue:
We have been officially playing since 1996, when we released our first CD. Since then, we have played not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad, we have toured 36-37 countries. We play our universal music, it's Roma music, positive, dance, that everyone likes.
Czechs perceive our songs positively, they even sing our songs along with us in our concerts…
However, when we tried to promote our music on radio, even through commercial channels, they refused to play “black music”, due the fear of losing their listeners… In fact, since then did not changed much, they play old songs, for example of <PERSON>, or our old songs only if there is some “great” occasion. 260