“I can´t thank you enough for all the wonderful times that I had last week. I have come back to South Africa with my head spinning with so much amazing information.The music was truly exciting and such a delicious eclectiv mix for one who considers himself to be a little bit of an expert on gypsy music. I made some surprising new discoveries.
The other side of the festival, the films and the discussions, were also very informative and have inspired me greatly in my research.”

Neil Starr, festival visitor from South Africa

World Roma Festival KHAMORO 2004

Our come back to France was probably one of the most amazing in our long musical carreer, meeting our families for breakfast on a sunday morning, while the lights of Khamoro hadn´t switched off in our minds.
Although I promised not to repete it, I say it again : we were very happy to perform at this beautiful festival, and proud to be part of such a prestigious program. Thank you for all and we wish long life to Khamoro!

Jean-Maurice Dutriaux, Bratsch, France

World Roma Festival KHAMORO 2003

Slow blues and swift czardases sounded yesterday night in Lucerna Music Bar, Prague in honour of newly released CD of festival Khamoro greatest hits. On the eve of opening of the fifth year of World Roma Festival, new CD was baptized by organisers and Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Mareš who held the patronage of this years' festival.
"I would like to wish to the festival, so that even its tenth year would be visited and baptised by Prime Ministers or Deputy Prime Ministers with such pleasure as I had," said Mareš to ČTK.

ČTK, 25 May2003


"Khamoro became the world project, very reputable and important for all the Roma."

Esma Redžepova Teodosievska, Romani music queen from Macedonia

"Festival Khamoro certainly belongs to the most prestigious Roma projects on local and international level. International Romani Union appreciates the work of all who took part on organization and was pleased to take the patronage over the festival," said Emil Ščuka, the President of IRU

Romano hangos, 22 May 2003

Dear collegues,
You illuminated my gloomy days with the light of mercy. I don't know how to express my thanks for your kindness and ticket discount - I have lack of words.
I wish you days full of sunshine.

Renáta Köttnerová, coordinator of national minorities

World Roma Festival KHAMORO 2002

Dear organizers of the Khamoro Festival,
We would like to thank you for organizing a terrific series of concerts. We just saw the “Na plny pecky” show on TV, which reminded us of the amazing atmosphere at the concerts. Our visiting of the first concert of the festival, the Ciganos D’Ouro, was not planned, but we were so intrigued by it, that we attended all the other concerts during the festival. We are still filled with great memories and would like to thank you again. If possible, we would like to put in a good word for another invitation of the “Golden Gypsies” from Portugal for future festivals.

Tereza, Honza, Jirka

Gypsies made Prague dance
As a part of the KHAMORO 2002 festival, a parade of traditional Gypsy bands from all over the world went from the Old Town Square, through Příkopy, to Můstek. It was a showing of music and dance, which attracted a large group of spectators, who were following the parade and applauding the performers.

Mlada fronta Dnes

Havel invited Roma musicians to the Prague castle
“I regard the Khamoro festival to be a very good thing and, as much as possible, I try to attend it every year. I hope that it will expand through success and continue to popularize Roma art.” The end of his speech was somewhat unusual. “The weather is beautiful, so let’s have the champagne in the garden”.

Lidove noviny

The Sun that never sets
…everyone is freely dancing. An elegant man with a black hat is hugging an old wrinkled woman, while the children are happily jumping around them: they are dancing until the end of the concert, just like their grandparents. (description of the atmosphere at one of the Khamoro concerts)

Respekt

World Roma Festival KHAMORO 2001

There is a saying in the Czech Republic: All good comes third. I wish all the best to this year’s KHAMORO festival. I hope that the audiences will have a wonderful artistic experience, I hope that the performers will have satisfied audiences and nice experiences in Prague, and I hope that the organizers will have a bigger support of the government, cultural institutions, and other donators. This is truly a unique Roma festival and it represents the Roma culture in a great way. We should all be proud that it is happening in Prague.

Emil Ščuka, President of the International Romani Union

Year after year, this festival is gaining more interest in the Czech Republic and other European countries, thanks to a strong media campaign. It is very realistic to say that we are being witnesses to a birth of a new annual tradition in Prague. We are very glad that we can host a very important, although less followed, section of the Festival, the expert seminars, in the House of the Senate. To all the participants of the festival, I wish all the best.

Petr Pithart, President of the Czech Senate

Roma party in Prague
Happiness, joy, beauty, and a wide variety of colors accompanied a parade of Roma musicians and dancers, which passed through the Old Town on a beautiful Thursday afternoon.

Vecernik Praha

World Roma Festival KHAMORO 2000

I was so impressed by the KHAMORO 2000 program, that I gladly accepted patronage over it. I welcome every annual festival, which, as it seems, is going to become an every-year multicultural holiday, representing the creativity of Roma people from many aspects. I am also glad that this festival uses its educating events to address certain problems, which are still present in our co-existence. Last year’s KHAMORO Festival was a large happening. I hope that this year’s KHAMORO 2000 Festival will help establish a lengthy tradition of “sunny” festivals, which will connect us and the Roma people through pleasant experiences that are greatly needed for our co-existence.

Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic

The KHAMORO 2000 Festival is one of the main events of the European cities of culture initiative, which includes Prague and other European cities. The process of European integration is based on the deepening of solidarity between nations, during which their history, culture, and traditions are fully respected. I am convinced that KHAMORO 2000 will be a great opportunity for improvement of mutual understanding and increase of cultural richness and cooperation, which includes some very important areas, such as education and employment.

Ramiro Cibrian, Ambassador and Head of European Commission Delegation

Roma Dance in Prague Lucerna
Traditional Roma music made the audiences’ blood boil all throughout the festival. The performers had a tough time. Their wild music was making the audiences so excited, that they would always demand more and the musicians were not able to leave the stage.

Romano hangos

International Roma Festival KHAMORO ’99

I like Roma music. There are only a few melodies in the world, which are able to reach so deeply and intensely into one’s heart and soul, like Roma music does. The understanding of Roma music is a good road towards understanding of Roma people.

Libuse Benesova, President of the Czech Senate and President of the KHAMORO Honorary Council

The Idea to organize an International Roma Festival intrigued me. I realized that we know very little about Roma history and that we have very few opportunities to become familiar with Roma culture. The organizers of the festival have reached for one of the most interesting aspects of Roma culture. Music is accessible and understandable for all generations and has a strong power to connect people. I believe that this power will strengthen the meaning of the first KHAMORO festival, KHAMORO ’99, which will start a tradition of Roma festivals in Prague.

Pavel Dostal, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic