ACCOMPANYING EVENTS
OPEN AIR
Fri ----
30.05. ---- 12:00
Wenceslas Square
PARADE
An unforgettable experience! One of the most attractive and popular Khamoro events right in the heart of Prague! A horse-drawn carriage, dozens of Romani musicians, hundreds of dancers in traditional costumes, and thousands of passersby joining spontaneously. All of this to the wild sounds of Balkan brass bands, traditional Czech and Slovak Romani songs, Hungarian czardas, and passionate rhythms of Spanish flamenco. An unbelievable atmosphere, an unforgettable spectacle! Join the parade that will literally dance through the streets of historic Prague – from Wenceslas to Old Town Square.
Fri ----
30.05. ---- 15:00
Park Portheimka
KHAMORORO – CHILDREN’S DAY
"No children, no luck" – an old Romani saying that guides Khamoro year after year. What’s in store for you, boys and girls, on Children’s Day? Sack races, face painting, braiding, a magic fortune-teller’s tent, photo booth, and more! There will also be music and dance featuring several dance troupes, singers Valerie Stojková and Veronika Horáková, rapper Young Dee, and special guest singer Jan Pohlodko. Come enjoy your day – Khamororo is here for you!
THEATRE & FILM
Tue ----
27.05. ---- 19:30
Kino Atlas
Fri ----
30.05. ---- 17:30
Municipal Library of Prague – Central Library
FILM SCREENING: CHAPLIN: SPIRIT OF THE TRAMP
Everyone knows him – the small man with the bowler hat and mustache who made the world laugh. Few know he had Romani roots. Join us for the Czech premiere of a documentary film about one of the most iconic figures in film history – Charlie Chaplin – as part of the 27th annual Khamoro World Roma Festival! Directed by his granddaughter Carmen Chaplin, the film draws on exclusive family archive access, intimate interviews, and modern Romani artists’ perspectives, telling a powerful story of identity, legacy, and humanity.
Wed ----
28.05. ---- 17:00
Vila Štvanice
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED: STORIES OF SURVIVORS
Wed ----
28.05. ---- 19:00
Kino Atlas
FILM SCREENING: REPORT ON THE PREPARATORY YEAR
A theatrical performance where you are not just a spectator, but also a creator of change? Theatre of the Oppressed breaks through the fourth wall! It invites you directly into the action, encouraging you to search for answers together with others to burning questions. One such question is the pain passed down from generation to generation – the trauma of the Holocaust of the Roma. The production “Stories of Survivors” was created as part of a project of the same name by the organization Slovo 21. It draws from the stories told by the descendants of those who survived the horrors of the Nazis. At the same time, it opens up current topics of injustice, racism, and the quiet sorrow that sometimes cannot be put into words. Don’t expect traditional theatre or professional actors. You will be faced with those who truly live these stories.
The “Stories of Survivors” project was supported by Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ).
A powerful story about the desire for knowledge and a system that builds walls instead of doors. "Zpráva o nultém ročníku" (Report on the Preparatory Year), a documentary film by director Jakub Fišer, is in many ways a testimony to how difficult – and yet possible – the journey of Romani students toward higher education can be in the Czech Republic. It follows the perseverance of individuals and the 20-year effort of the Department of Social Pedagogy at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, which chose not to look away from such students, but to lend them a helping hand. At the heart of the story is Romani educator Josef Pompa and his personal journey filled with obstacles, but also determination and hope. Join us for a screening of a documentary about the hidden barriers in the Czech education system, the power of support, and the small steps that can lead to big changes.
EXHIBITIONS
Thu
29.05. ---- 18:00
Fotograf Gallery Zone
PHOTO EXHIBITION: ANDREJ PEŠTA
A photo of a Romani man proudly posing with a catch of fish in front of his own car? That would probably be nothing extraordinary today, but in the days of socialism, such a picture was almost like science fiction. Andrej Pešta, one of the few Romani photographers, captured the life of his community in Czechoslovakia in a completely different way than society was used to at the time. He did not photograph poverty and folk customs, but everyday life without pathos, exoticization, or false sympathy. He showed the Roma as ordinary people with ordinary hobbies. Photography was his biggest one, although he was also a writer, a visual artist, and involved in the ethno-emancipation movement. His extensive archive is preserved by the Museum of Romani Culture. The exhibition Baro frajeris at the Fotograf Gallery in Prague, curated by Emilia Rigová, presents selected works from that collection. It is a silent, black-and-white world that speaks loudly even after all these years. The exhibition will be musically accompanied by the excellent guitarist Tibor Žida. Be there!
LITERATURE
Mob ----
26.05. ---- 17:00
Lastavica
BOOK LAUNCH: QUO VADIS, ROMA? EMIL ŠČUKA ASKS
Where are the Roma headed? This is the question that one of the most important figures in the modern history of the Romani people in the Czech Republic and Europe has been asking himself all his life, the Romani leader, lawyer, former politician, and visionary, Emil Ščuka. He is a man who has been fighting for Romani rights all his life and who is not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions of himself, of society, and of the Roma themselves. He will answer the fundamental question “Quo vadis, Roma?”, this time in Jaroslav Balvín's book of more than 350 pages, which maps Ščuka’s life story in its personal, professional, and historical context. The book also provides a detailed look at key moments of the Romani national revival. This work is not just a look into the past, but an inspiration for the future. Come launch it together with us at Khamoro and pay tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to the service of his nation.
Mon ----
26.05. ---- 19:00
Community Center Kampa
STORYTELLING: FAMEĽIJA - AN EVENING OF STORIES BY THE FIRE
Go back in time to when where there were no mobile phones, no social media networks, and no television. A time when all relevant information was transmitted through stories. Experience the ancient Romani tradition of vakeriben – storytelling, by a crackling fire in the magical surroundings of Prague's Kampa Park, accompanied by well-known Romani songs performed by the band Gipsy Brothers and singer David Kraus. Stories of family, love, separation, and reunion await you, stories that will entertain and move you at the same time, just as life itself writes them. You can look forward to, among other storytellers, the writers Stanislava Miková and Dana Ema Hrušková. The evening will be guided by the actress and singer Pavlína Matiová and musician Vojtěch Lavička. You don’t just have to listen, either - you can join in the storytelling...
Tue ----
27.05. ---- 17:00
Municipal Library in Prague - Smíchov
BOOK PRESENTATION: IN THE RHYTHM OF THE CIIMBALOM
"I don't remember a time when I didn't play the cimbalom!" The words of Michal Taragoš, a cimbalom player who was born in the 1960s in Libeň, Prague, into a family of Slovak Roma musicians. His memories - happy, touching, and those that hurt a bit - create a mosaic of the life of not only one talented artist, but also of an entire generation of Czech-Slovak-Hungarian Roma whose stories are often missing from school textbooks. Michal Taragoš tells his life story with gentle humour, lightness, and a touch of nostalgia to his long-time friend, Slovak director Dana Račková. At the book presentation, the memories will come alive right before your eyes. Actor František Čachotský will lend his voice to them while the melody of the cimbalom weaves through them. And who else should strum its strings but Michal Taragoš himself?
Thu ----
29.05. ---- 17:00
Kavárna Pod Korunami stromů
BOOK LAUNCH: I SEE MUSIC IN COLOR
What is it like when you lose your eyesight as a child? What if you have a disobedient guide dog? What does a blind musician have to contend with? And what did police harassment against Roma look like in the Czech Republic in the 1990s? In a unique book interview, the most famous Czech Roma accordionist Mário Bihári tells his life story to journalist Patrik Bang, winner of the Magnesia Litera Award. Alongside sharp moments, it is not lacking in humour or insight. In the book you will read, among other things, how the blind musician became a champion sportsman and photographer and why he initially hated his iconic accordion. Be drawn into the world of two extraordinary men who made it big despite fate not dealing them the best cards. Come to the book launch for a book about a journey that overcomes the darkness and finds light even in the most inauspicious moments! Mário will play with his band Bachtale Apsa...
EXPERT PROGRAMME
Mon ----
26.05. ---- 11:00
Old Town Hall - Hall of Architects
ROUND TABLE: ROMA INTEGRATION IN PRAGUE: FROM STRATEGY TO PRACTICE
Thu ----
29.05. ---- 10:00
Stone Bell House - GHMP
OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEETING: SOUND OF DIVERSITY
How is Prague implementing the Roma Integration Strategy for 2022-2030? What works in practice and what remains only on paper? This is what representatives of the public administration, the non-profit sector, academics, and Roma experts will discuss at Khamor. At the round table, which RomanoNet is co-organizing with the Prague City Council and Slovo 21, an interesting - and most important - discussion on the inclusion of the Roma community in Prague awaits them. The discussion will focus on housing, education, employmen,t and the involvement of Roma in decision-making processes. The conference will also offer a space for sharing experiences, good practices, and networking. After all, Khamoro connects.
How can the voices of minorities in Europe be strengthened? How can entrenched prejudices be fought? What role can culture play in this? These are the questions that the international Sound of Diversity meeting at the Khamoro World Roma Festival will seek to answer. Experts from non-profit organizations and local governments, including Prague City Hall, will jointly seek ways to better promote cultural diversity and strengthen the representation of Romani communities and other minorities in the European public space - because diversity is not a barrier, but a strength.
Thu ----
29.05. ---- 14:00
Hotel Novotel
PANEL DISCUSSION: FIGHTING ANTIGYPSISM THROUGH CULTURE
When arguments do not help, the power of image, music, theatre, or story comes in. Art has the power to break down prejudices, perhaps more than it may seem at first glance. It can name what society overlooks. And it gives voice to those who don't have one. The panel debate " FIGHTING ANTIGYPSISM THROUGH CULTURE" will show how artivism - that is, the combination of art and activism - helps in the fight against hatred against Roma. The discussion will present inspiring examples from all over Europe - from Roma Holocaust commemorations, to community art, to various anti-racism campaigns. Thirty guests from the international Sound of Diversity project will also join the discussion, bringing their own examples and ideas on how to make culture that has a voice and meaning. The discussion is part of the international JEKHIPE project and the capacity-building activities of the ERGO Network.
Sat ----
31.05. ---- 14:00
Hotel Olšanka
MINICONFERENCE: SPEAK UP / VAKER ZORALEDER
Change often starts with breaking the silence. This year, the World Roma Festival Khamoro will open up a taboo topic that is not easy to talk about, but must be talked about. And loudly! Domestic violence against women is unfortunately present in all societies and cultures, but in the Roma environment it has its own specificities. From the deep-rooted stereotypes that women are obliged to protect the family at all costs, to the patriarchal structure that assigns dominant roles to men and subordinate roles to women. At the mini-conference Speak Up, "Vaker zoraleder" in Romani, our organization Slovo 21 will present a completely unique research that has been missing in the Czech Republic on this burning topic. And we will present a campaign that sends a clear message: to remain silent is to stand by.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME
Thu ----
29.05. ---- 8:00
Cimburkova Primary School
KHAMORO IN SCHOOLS: MEMENTO MORI
“Remember Death.” The Latin phrase “memento mori” is not just a warning about the impermanence of life. It is a call to remember what must never be forgotten. The Khamoro World Roma Festival delivers this unique program to the schools, bringing information about the Holocaust of the Roma to the younger generation, a subject that is often sadly missing from school curricula. This series of artworks by the architect and painter Zdeněk Daniel, himself the descendant of Holocaust survivors of Romani origin, connects history with visual art. His paintings exhibited at the school are not just an aesthetic experience. They are a silent but urgent testimony to one of the darkest chapters of European history. The program, including a workshop with the exhibition, targets 8th through 12th-graders. It is completely free of charge. There are things that must be talked about, especially in schools.
KHAMORO CONNECTS
KHAMORO KHER - SUPPORTING ROMAN CHILDREN FROM CHILDREN'S HOMES
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL ON ROMAN MUSIC
Forgotten roots and suppressed identity. More than half of the children in Czech orphanages are of Roma origin. The opportunities for them to experience Romani culture firsthand are minimal. Khamoro Kher wants to fill this void at least partially. That is why we are bringing children from orphanages in Česká Kamenice in the Děčín region and Potštejn in the Rychnov region to Prague to experience Romani culture as it is. In addition, they will meet Romani students who have succeeded despite their difficult beginnings. They will be guided throughout by a Roma coordinator who himself grew up in an orphanage and is now studying at university. Opening the door to the self - that's what really matters to us. Because everyone deserves a moment when they can be proud to be Romani...
Romani music as an object of scientific research. Did you know that people come to Khamoro not only for experiences, but also for knowledge? Even from the other side of the world? Since 2012, together with the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University, we have been organising the International Summer School on Romani Music. Students from different parts of the planet - including, for example, the United States or India - often meet Roma and their culture for the first time in their lives at Khamoro. At lectures, various workshops, and in the evenings and concerts, they find out what Roma music is, what diverse genres it offers and what it says about Roma themselves. The course is led by Doc. Zuzana Jurková, PhDr., Ph.D., head of the ethnomusicology programme at FHS UK, who invites the world's most renowned experts on Romani music to the summer school every year. This year, the main guest will be Dr. Kinga Povedák, who focuses on Romani spirituality and its musical manifestations. And Carol Silverman, professor in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oregon in the USA, will also be there.
KHAMORO SHARES EXPERIENCES
At Khamoro, we are not just about fun, although even that is extremely important in this complex world. We want to pass on our years of experience! To open doors to those who have the desire to create, organize, and change the world around them. We teach twenty selected young Romani people from different parts of the Czech Republic how to run the biggest Romani festival in the world at a week-long cultural management training. How to build a dramaturgy, what teamwork looks like in the field, how to effectively promote a festival, and what cultural production entails. So that they too can organise various cultural events in their regions. Every year, volunteers come from all over the country - from Brno, Ústí, Zlín, and Náchod. They come with energy, a willingness to help, and often excellent English. We are interested in enthusiastic Roma who want to get into the secrets of cultural management! That's why Khamoro shares the experience...
ROMAN WRITERS CLUB MEETING - PARAMISARA
We believe in the power of words. Khamoro and our organization Slovo 21 have long supported emerging Roma writers and those who care about Roma literature. Six years ago we founded the Paramisara Romani Writers' Club, which today brings together about twenty Romani authors from all over the Czech Republic. And it is during the festival that the members of the club will meet again in the heart of the Czech capital, which at the end of May, during Khamoro, is the most beautiful city in the world. To create, share their impressions of upcoming works, and inspire each other. Currently, the members of the Paramisara Club are working on a difficult yet important topic. They are putting together the stories of women who have undergone forced sterilization.