Procession through city centre highlight of Khamoro Roma festival
All this week Prague has been playing host to the Khamoro festival of Romani culture. While the serious side of the festival addresses issues affecting Europe's 12 million Roma, Khamoro is mostly about music. The highlight of Khamoro is a procession by gypsy musicians and dancers through the centre of Prague.
"I think we all know that music is really one of the most important features of Romani culture, so if you accept Romani music, it opens the door to Romani culture and the Roma in general."
Dozens of performers attended this year's festival, and they came from far and wide - from the barren steppes of Russia to the shores of the Mediterranean sea:
"The name of the group is Ziringaglia, and we came from Bali in the south of Italy."
Tell me a bit about what sort of music you play.
"Gypsy music, with a lot of influence from traditional popular music from our country, and all the Mediterranean influences that come from Balkan countries like Albania and Arabic countries as well."
Right. Give me an example - play something for me.
(Band plays)
"Khamoro wataban. It was a song composed for this festival."
What does that mean?
"Like a big band of gypsies who arrive in a new place and make a party."
Passers-by were rather surprised to come across bands of marching musicians and dancers on an otherwise rather quiet afternoon. But both locals and tourists were clearly enthusiastic to be given a taste of Romani culture, which after all is what Khamoro is all about:
"I like this very much. I've never had the opportunity to hear it live, and the way it's being presented now, this is terrific. It's wonderful to be in Prague at this time to help celebrate and enjoy what music is."
