Accompanying events
Open air
Fri ----
31.05. ---- 12:00
Wenceslas Square
PARADE
You must experience it to understand! One of the most attractive and beloved events of Khamoro! A parade of all the performers right in the streets of Prague's historic centre! This is an experience you won't forget! A horse-drawn carriage, a hundred musicians, two hundred children from folk ensembles from all over the country, and thousands of bystanders who spontaneously join the procession. All this to the sounds of Balkan brass bands, traditional songs of Czech and Slovak Roma, Hungarian csardas, and fiery rhythms of Spanish guitars accompanied by brilliant performances of flamenco dancers. Be part of this huge colourful parade, which will lead from the Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square!
Fri ----
31.05. ---- 15:00
Park Portheimka
KHAMORORO – CHILDREN’S DAY
To hear children's laughter, to see joy in their eyes – there is hardly anything better! After all, as the old Romani proverb says, "Nane čhave, nane bacht," meaning "No children, no happiness." That's why you can look forward to the Khamororo Children's Day this year. What awaits you, boys and girls? Lots of fun, lots of attractions, lots of music and dancing! Bounce around in an inflatable castle, take a ride on a hand-powered wooden carousel or get your face painted! And most importantly, Denzzy & BIXI and Thomas G Joy are waiting for you! Your favourite stars whose music videos have hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and who, among other things, collaborated on the successful song "Divokej západ" by rapper Refew.
Sat ----
01.06. ---- 18:00
Aven te chal! Pavel Berky’s Cooking
(A)VOID CAFÉ – Embankment by Jirásek Bridge
A gastronomic show unlike any other at Khamoro! Traditional Romani dishes in a super modern version you have never seen before! All presented by the biggest Romani culinary star in the Czech Republic – food blogger and chef Pavel Berky. This finalist of the famous TV competition MasterChef Czech Republic will prepare delicacies for you directly on the boat in the romantic setting of the Rašínovo nábřeží embankment, guaranteeing you will leave satisfied! Would you like to try the family-style bean goulash with three types of meat, or the legendary Gypsy Burger, which combines several traditional Romani dishes? Aven te chal – come and eat!
PAVEL BERKY
Coming from Rimavská Sobota in Slovakia, Pavel has established himself as a successful fashion designer and, more recently, as a food blogger. He captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of viewers four years ago in the MasterChef Czech Republic competition, where he achieved an amazing third place. Since then, he has hosted two cooking shows and authored his own cookbook simply titled "Recepty" (Recipes) which received one of the awards from the Ministry of Culture and the Museum of Czech Literature in the Most Beautiful Book of the Year competition. He has over 360,000 followers on social media platforms.
Theatre and film
Mon ----
27.05. ---- 18:30
Theatre X10
THEATER PERFORMANCE: BUDETE MAŤ LUFT!
"Kajo, just wait for it today!” This was told to one of the residents of a Romani neighbourhood in the Western Slovak village of Pobedim almost one hundred years ago. The vague threat was a precursor to a tragedy that is still being silenced. A tragedy caused by prejudice that is still alive today. On the night of 1 to 2 October 1928, a group of bullies from the village of Pobedim decided to attack a nearby Romani settlement during a celebration. The result of the pogrom was destroyed households, numerous injuries, and six victims including a six-year-old child. These dreadful events are reconstructed by this production of the Slovak National Theatre. This somewhat controversial performance will be shown to the audience in Prague for the first time at Khamoro. However, we do not recommend it sensitive viewers.
Tue ----
28.05. ---- 18:00
Atlas Cinema
DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING: ILONA FERKOVÁ: I LIKE TO LAUGH, I LIKE TO MAKE THINGS UP
ILONA FERKOVÁ
Ilona Ferková was born in the 1950s in the town of Rokycany in Western Bohemia. She grew up in a family with six siblings. She began her literary work in the 1980s, inspired by the founder of Czech Romani studies, associate professor Milena Hübschmannová. Her texts started appearing in Romani periodicals such as Amaro lav, Romano kurko, Kereka, and Romano voďi. She currently mainly publishes with the Kher publishing house. She has four daughters and 11 grandchildren.
She is impossible to miss. A great woman in spirit and laughter. With immense charisma and the gift of a light step, she walks through life fulfilling her dreams. Ilona Ferková is one of the leading Romani writers. She tells her life story with laughter in the new documentary by Slovo 21. "I like to make things up, but mostly I write real stories," she says in the film directed by Markéta Oddfish Nešlehová. Want to meet Ilona in person? Curious about her story? Come to the documentary screening!
Wed ----
29.05. ---- 18:00
Institut Cervantes
DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING: CARMEN, NO FEAR OF FREEDOM
Fearless, unconventional, daring. That's Carmen. The main character of the documentary directed by Irene Baqué comes from the "Las 600" neighbourhood in southern Spain and leads an association of Romani feminist women fighting against systemic racism and sexism. She strives to empower the rights, strength, and voices of Romani, Arab, and Spanish women alike. Carmen criticizes the existence of non-profit organizations led by non-Roma, offering what she deems as pointless courses that do not truly benefit Romani people. At the same time, Carmen constantly grapples with the difficulty of promoting feminism within the Romani community. Interested in the theme of Romani women's emancipation? In that case, don't miss the film screening!
Exhibitions
Music
Wed
29.05. ---- 17:00
Clam-Gallas Palace
GUIDED TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION: STORIES OF SURVIVORS
The powerful accounts of six Romani men and women who were imprisoned in the concentration camp Lety u Písku. At the world's largest Romani festival, we cannot overlook the darkest chapter in Romani history – the Romani Holocaust. "Stories of survivors" are authentic recollections of those who endured unimaginable suffering during World War II and provided testimony about their experiences. Through photographs, texts, and especially audio recordings, the exhibition highlights the diversity of the Romani experience and the differing life destinies of those who were labelled as "Gypsies" and thus became victims of Nazi racial persecution. This exhibition is a part of the Centre for the Roma and Sinti in Prague, which is administered by the Museum of Romani Culture.
Wed ----
29.05. ---- 19:00
Klub FAMU
JAM SESSION
Imagine a place where the only language is based on rhythm, melody, and above all, improvisation. This year's Khamoro will also feature a Jam Session! It is a unique space for inspiration, exploring new musical possibilities, and bridging the gap between Romani musicians from various European countries. During jamming sessions, musicians play through improvisation, without preparation or pre-determined arrangements. Often, this helps them in creating new compositions. Young Romani musicians from the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovenia, Portugal, and Belgium will experience this at the world's largest Romani festival. And you can be part of it!
Expert programme
Mon ----
27.05. ---- 14:30
Přítomnost Boutique Cinema
TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUNG ROMA: DISCUSSION ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE
How has the Czech education evolved in its approach to Romani people since 1989? What opportunities do young Roma have when transitioning from primary to secondary school? What motivates young Roma to study, and where do they seek support and assistance? This discussion, subtitled "Discussion on Education Opportunities and Examples of Good Practice", will feature insights from education experts and leaders of scholarship programs for young Roma, as well as Romani individuals themselves, including graduates of secondary and tertiary education. The ROMEA organization, which is co-organizing the discussion with Khamoro, will also introduce its new campaign created by young Romani students.
Educational programmes
Event not open to public
KHAMORO AT SCHOOLS
From concert halls, theatres and galleries to school desks. The world’s largest Romani festival is once again heading to Prague schools! Pupils of the Jaroslav Seifert Kindergarten and Elementary School can expect musical games by the pianist, accordionist, and singer Mário Bihári and the violinist Adam Pospíšil. Romani literature will also be featured, a topic that regrettably receives little attention in schools. But don't worry kids, there will be no boring lectures and cramming! The Romani writer Věra Horváthová will introduce Romani literature to you in the most entertaining way possible. It is going to be a blast!
Event not open to public
DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING: LEAVING TO REMAIN
Petr, the first Romani policeman in Britain honoured by Queen Elizabeth II; Denisa, the first Romani lawyer in the United Kingdom; and Ondřej, who aspires to be the first Romani British pilot. Mira Erdevički's documentary "Leaving to Remain" follows the lives of three Czech-Slovak young Roma, who are children of the so-called first generation of immigrants. These are families who migrated from Czechia and Slovakia to the United Kingdom in the 1990s due to racial and social discrimination. If their parents had decided differently, Petr, Denisa, and Ondřej, who were sent to special schools in Czechia and Slovakia, would hardly have achieved a vocational certificate.
Event not open to public
SHARING KHAMORO EXPERIENCES
How do you prepare the biggest Roma festival in the world? What needs to be done on technical, organizational and artistic side and in terms of promoting the event? A selected group of young Romani guys will find out in the course of a one-week festival marathon. During the training in cultural management, our experts will advise them on how to put together interesting programme and prepare a cultural event from a dramaturgical point of view, how to be effective when working in a team, or how to talk to the media. The trainees will also participate in Khamoro events to gain some practical insight. We give a chance to young Romani people to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to organize smaller festival or other cultural events in their own region sometimes in future. We are interested in enthusiastic Romani youngsters who wish to learn more about cultural management, which is why Khamoro shares its experience and best practices!
Event not open to public
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL OF ROMA MUSIC
Roma music as a subject of scientific research. Did you know that concerts and other events at Khamoro are not attended only by lay people looking for entertainment but also by those who seek expert knowledge? The organizer of our festival, Slovo 21, together with the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University in Prague once again the International Summer School of Roma Music. In a series of lectures, workshops and evening concerts, approximately twenty students from all around the world discover every year what Roma music is about, learn about its diverse genres and what it says about Roma people. As always, the course will be led by Doc. PhDr. Zuzana Jurková, Ph.D., the head of the Institute for Ethnomusicology at the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University.
