- Romani anthem
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Gelem, Gelem is often used as the anthem of the Romani people. It is known by many (often similar names) including "Gyelem, Gyelem", "Dzelem, Dzelem", "Dželem, Dželem", "Đelem, Đelem", "Djelem, Djelem", "Ђелем, Ђелем", "Ѓелем, Ѓелем","Џелем, Џелем", "Джелем, джелем" (cyrillic), "Opré Roma" and "Romale Shavale".
After the devastation suffered by the Romanis during the Porajmos, Žarko Jovanović composed the words and set them to a traditional melody. The Romani song was adopted by delegates of the first World Romani Congress in 1971.
Lyrics
Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensa
Maladilem bakhtale Romensa
A Romale katar tumen aven,
E tsarensa bahktale dromensa?A Romale, A Chavale
Vi man sas ek bari familiya,
Murdadas la e kali legiya
Aven mansa sa lumniake Roma,
Kai putaile e romane droma
Ake vriama, usti Rom akana,
Men khutasa misto kai kerasaA Romale, A Chavale
Puter Dewla le parne wudara
Te sai dikhaw kai si me manusha
Pale ka gav lungone dromencar
Ta ka phirav bachtale RomensaA Rromalen, A chavalen
Opre Rroma isi vaxt akana
Ajde mançar sa lumáqe Rroma
O kalo muj ta e kale jakha
Kamàva len sar e kale drakhaA Rromalen, A chavalen.
I went, I went on long roads
I met happy Roma
O Roma where do you come from,
With tents on happy roads?O Roma, O brothers
I once had a great family,
The Black Legions murdered them
Come with me Roma from all the world
For the Roma roads have opened
Now is the time, rise up Roma now,
We will rise high if we actO Roma, O brothers
Open, God, Black doors
You can see where are my people.
Come back to tour the
Roads and walk with lucky RomaniO Roma, O brothers
Up, Gypsy! Now is the time
Come with me Roma
World brown face and dark eyes
Much as I like black grapesO Roma, O brothers
References
- Patrin Web Journal - Gelem, Gelem: Roma Anthem
External links
- Kosovo Roma Oral History Project - Roma Culture: Music
- Loyko: Djelem
- Original song by "Opre Roma" Sung by Jarko Jovanovic
- more informantion on Roma - this website has a link to alternative song spellings: [1]
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