Articulating Romani Public Identity at Music Festivals: The Case of the International Days of Roma Culture in Krakow
Articulating Romani Public Identity at Music Festivals: The Case of the International Days of Roma Culture in Krakow

Author(s): Anna Piotrowska
Subject(s): Anthropology, Social Sciences, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Music, Sociology, Culture and social structure
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: The International Days of Roma Culture in Krakow; Romani musicians; Nowa Huta; ethnic music festival; public identity
Summary/Abstract: The chapter discusses the International Days of Roma Culture organised in Krakow since 2012 as an example of a local ethnic music festival enabling a public articulation of the Romani identity within the framework of an urban context. The festival is argued to primarily foster neighbourly relations between the Roma and non-Roma of Nowa Huta, and generally the citizens of Krakow. The overriding thesis of this chapter is that the Romani self-presentations as endorsed at the festival are meant to stimulate the recognition of the Romani input into the local culture and regional development. The analysis predominantly draws on participatory observations and interviews with the festival organisers to answer the question of how the Roma articulate their public identity in a particular local context. The results of the research are accompanied by photographs, illustrating various elements of the event.

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