Romani anthem
| English: I Went, I Went | |
|---|---|
Ethnic anthem of the Romani people | |
| Also known as | Opre Roma (English: Up, Romanies) |
| Lyrics | Žarko Jovanović, 1949 |
| Music | Žarko Jovanović, 1949 |
| Adopted | 1971 |
"Gelem, Gelem" is a song composed by Žarko Jovanović, often used as the anthem of the Romani people. The title has been adapted in many countries by local Roma to match their native orthography and spoken dialect of the Romani language. Some of the song's many titles include
- "Đelem, Đelem" (Croatian and Latin Serbian and Bosnian orthography)
- "Djelem, Djelem" (German and French orthography)
- "Dzelem, Dzelem"
- "Dželem, Dželem" (alternative Croatian and Latin Serbian and Bosnian orthography)
- "Gyelem, Gyelem" (Hungarian orthography)
- "Jelem, Jelem"
- "Opré Roma"
- "Romale Shavale"
- "Ѓелем, Ѓелем" (Macedonian orthography)
- "Джелем, джелем" (Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian orthography)
- "Ђелем, Ђелем" (Cyrillic Serbian and Bosnian orthography)
- "Џелем, Џелем" (alternative Cyrillic Serbian and Bosnian orthography)
- "Kara Çocuk Raksı" (Turkish version, lit. black child dance)[1]
In an interview with reporter Mike Kalezić, Jovanović himself titled the song "Opre Roma".[2]
After experiencing firsthand the incarceration of Roma during the Porajmos (the Romani Holocaust of World War II), Jovanović later composed the lyrics of "Gelem, Gelem" and set them to a traditional melody in 1949. The song was first adopted by delegates of the first World Romani Congress held in 1971.[3]
Lyrics
E tsarentsa, bahtale Rromentsa
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Original Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensa A Romale, A Chavale Sas vi man yekh bari familiya, A Romale, A Chavale Puter Devla le parne vudara A Romalen, A chavalen Opre Rroma, si bakht akana A Romalen, A chavalen.
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Translation I went, I went on long roads O Roma, O Romani youths! I once had a great family, O Roma, O Romani youths! Open, God, White doors O Roma, O Romani youths! Up, Romani people! Now is the time O Roma, O Romani youths!
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Alternate lyrics
There are many versions of "Gelem, Gelem", notably those translated by Ronald Lee.[5]
In 2004, the band Vaya Con Dios released an interpretation, with lyrics in French by their singer Dani Klein, with the similar sounding title "Je l'aime, Je l'aime".
References
- ^ bANDİSTA - Kara Çocuk Raksı, retrieved 2022-05-23
- ^ Kalezić, Mike. "Ministar na koljenima". prvi tamburaški online magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Romani Nationalism, Flag and Anthem". Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ Nazi genocide of Roma and Sinti people
- ^ "Djelem Djelem [Romani] song lyrics". Dunav.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-27. (archived 2 April 2007).
Sources
- Patrin Web Journal - Gelem, Gelem: Roma Anthem
See also
External links
- Kosovo Roma Oral History Project - Roma Culture: Music
