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Khamoro (Romani for "Sunshine") is the world's largest and best-known professional Romani festival, which has been organised in Prague since 1999 by Slovo 21, z.s. together with SP Saga. The festival, which regularly takes place in the last week of May, each year offers unique concerts by Roma bands from all over the world, exhibitions, film screenings, dance workshops as well as expert seminars and conferences. Around 10.000 people from Czech Republic and abroad visit Khamoro festival each year.
World's largest festival of Romani culture
Romani music is the main focus of the festival, representing an important part of the world's cultural heritage. Since the beginning, more than 160 professional Roma bands from 40 countries around the world have performed in concerts.
Program:
Program:
PROGRAM
ODE TO JOY - Martin Oláh
„Even in pain is the joy every morning when you see what was not to be seen before“(collection of poems by Martin Oláh „E phuv“)
Ode to Joy is not only the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th symphony, or Friedrich Schiller’s poem, but also the title of a music performance of talented Roma poet Martin Oláh, which you will be able to see at this year’s Khamoro.
The young artist wants to call attention to the fact that everyone decides about his or her worldview, about what to focus on, what will become the part of his or her microcosm. Many nations have very different worldviews, including Roma. But there is an opportunity for all to get inspired and enriched.
The Roma nation does not have their own state, their own territory, and so they have been globe-trotting for centuries and have been getting inspiration – and inspired others – from other nations while keeping their own identity.
Ode to Joy is a unique opportunity for you to travel with Roma people all over the world to get enriched by cultures of other nations, and finally to pay tribute to Mother Nature for the gift of existence and creativity.
Ode to Joy is not only the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th symphony, or Friedrich Schiller’s poem, but also the title of a music performance of talented Roma poet Martin Oláh, which you will be able to see at this year’s Khamoro.
The young artist wants to call attention to the fact that everyone decides about his or her worldview, about what to focus on, what will become the part of his or her microcosm. Many nations have very different worldviews, including Roma. But there is an opportunity for all to get inspired and enriched.
The Roma nation does not have their own state, their own territory, and so they have been globe-trotting for centuries and have been getting inspiration – and inspired others – from other nations while keeping their own identity.
Ode to Joy is a unique opportunity for you to travel with Roma people all over the world to get enriched by cultures of other nations, and finally to pay tribute to Mother Nature for the gift of existence and creativity.
KHAMORO PARTY
IMPERIO / CZECH REPUBLIC
The Roma Imperio band of Přerov is the guarantee and inspiration for you to dance through the whole Khamoro party in Stromovka.
Imperio was established in 2006, and it successfully performed at hundreds of festivals and private events. Their craftsmanship has been admired and appreciated not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Their own songs combine various genres, from czardas, through funk, pop, and latino. The band also plays traditional Roma folk songs, and so everybody will be able to enjoy their own choice.
Imperio has released four successful albums which demonstrate their outstanding instrumental skills, energy, and joy of the music.
And that’s what we will be able to experience and share with them at the Khamoro party!
CONNECTION
The offer to perform at the Khamoro Festival has often become a strong motivation for a restart of bands which were successful in the past.
That’s the case of the Connection band which will perform at the opening Khamoro party at Gauča in Stromovka. Members of the Connection band rank among the absolute instrumental top, creating very sophisticated and nice arrangements.
Connection was established in 2006 under the leadership of bass guitar player Josef Fečo. Their own songs combine funky, soul, RnB, jazz, and other music styles, thus creating a unique sound. A strong personality of Connection is the sister of Josef Fečo, Erika Fečová, a very young and talented singer.
After the successful launching of their debut album, the band played to full houses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2011, the band announced the end of their activities, but they will start a new era at this year’s Khamoro!
So, stay with us to encourage them!
The Roma Imperio band of Přerov is the guarantee and inspiration for you to dance through the whole Khamoro party in Stromovka.
Imperio was established in 2006, and it successfully performed at hundreds of festivals and private events. Their craftsmanship has been admired and appreciated not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Their own songs combine various genres, from czardas, through funk, pop, and latino. The band also plays traditional Roma folk songs, and so everybody will be able to enjoy their own choice.
Imperio has released four successful albums which demonstrate their outstanding instrumental skills, energy, and joy of the music.
And that’s what we will be able to experience and share with them at the Khamoro party!
CONNECTION
The offer to perform at the Khamoro Festival has often become a strong motivation for a restart of bands which were successful in the past.
That’s the case of the Connection band which will perform at the opening Khamoro party at Gauča in Stromovka. Members of the Connection band rank among the absolute instrumental top, creating very sophisticated and nice arrangements.
Connection was established in 2006 under the leadership of bass guitar player Josef Fečo. Their own songs combine funky, soul, RnB, jazz, and other music styles, thus creating a unique sound. A strong personality of Connection is the sister of Josef Fečo, Erika Fečová, a very young and talented singer.
After the successful launching of their debut album, the band played to full houses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2011, the band announced the end of their activities, but they will start a new era at this year’s Khamoro!
So, stay with us to encourage them!
THE MEDITERRANEAN GYPSY SWING EXPERIENCE/ISRAEL
The prestigious Jazz Dock Club will again host top quality Roma jazz musicians. This year it will be The Mediterranean Gypsy Swing Experience from Israel.
The origin of Roma musicians itself raises curiosity. Even though Israel does not belong to the typical “suppliers” of gypsy jazz, the combination of Roma music and Yiddish music results in a unique sound of the band. The fact itself that a clarinet is present in this quartet, which does not appear in the conservative gypsy swing bands, is the guarantee of the band’s originality.
The band leader is excellent double bassist Oren Sagi, the founder of the well-known Swing e Gitanes band. However, he is currently fully involved in this new music grouping. Other members of the band include his brother, guitar player Alon Sagi, supporting guitar player Dror Shimoni , and violinist cum clarinetist Yonatan Miller.
A non-traditional concept of traditional jazz – you should not miss it!
The origin of Roma musicians itself raises curiosity. Even though Israel does not belong to the typical “suppliers” of gypsy jazz, the combination of Roma music and Yiddish music results in a unique sound of the band. The fact itself that a clarinet is present in this quartet, which does not appear in the conservative gypsy swing bands, is the guarantee of the band’s originality.
The band leader is excellent double bassist Oren Sagi, the founder of the well-known Swing e Gitanes band. However, he is currently fully involved in this new music grouping. Other members of the band include his brother, guitar player Alon Sagi, supporting guitar player Dror Shimoni , and violinist cum clarinetist Yonatan Miller.
A non-traditional concept of traditional jazz – you should not miss it!
VANO BAMBERGER & BAND / GERMANY
This year as usual, the Khamoro Festival will feature top interpreters of gypsy jazz, a genre which ranks among the most difficult and demanding as to the mastery of musicians.
The German Sinti Roma and Band grouping belongs to the stars of the biggest jazz stages. The heart of the band is the trio of brethren Vano, Donani a Terrangi, amazing guitarists who have joined forces with excellent Polish jazz violinist Siergi Wowkotrub and the well-established Czech double bassist Antonín Šturm.
You can enjoy popular hits of the forefather of this genre, Django Reinhardt, as well as original compositions and their instrumental magic which always come as a surprise for the audience.
They have staged hundreds of successful appearances worldwide and won several prestigious awards. In 2014 soloist Vano Bamberger won a very prestigious Main-Kinzig Culture Prize for an outstanding artistic contribution.
If your heart beats in the gypsy swing rhythm the concert of Vano and his band is the choice number one for you!
The German Sinti Roma and Band grouping belongs to the stars of the biggest jazz stages. The heart of the band is the trio of brethren Vano, Donani a Terrangi, amazing guitarists who have joined forces with excellent Polish jazz violinist Siergi Wowkotrub and the well-established Czech double bassist Antonín Šturm.
You can enjoy popular hits of the forefather of this genre, Django Reinhardt, as well as original compositions and their instrumental magic which always come as a surprise for the audience.
They have staged hundreds of successful appearances worldwide and won several prestigious awards. In 2014 soloist Vano Bamberger won a very prestigious Main-Kinzig Culture Prize for an outstanding artistic contribution.
If your heart beats in the gypsy swing rhythm the concert of Vano and his band is the choice number one for you!
THEATER PERFORMANCE DJELEM, DJELEM
In the middle of last year, a unique theater project was conceived, including a Roma amateur theater Trajo (Život). This is a follow-up project of a similar theater which was active in the 1960s. The founder of both theaters, today and in the 1960s, is Roma writer Ilona Ferková.
She is also the co-author of the play Djelem, djelem, which deals with migration to the United Kingdom.
The author of the script is talented Kateřina Volánková, who collected individual stories of the Roma from Rokycany, and created a unique story and the way of storytelling. Kateřina, a professional theater director, is also the director of this play which features amateur Roma actors from Rokycany.
The authentic story featuring the experience of several Rokycany women from their migration to Britain, evoke a controversial mixture of emotions - sadness, joy, gaiety, humor. Spectators are fully drawn into the action throughout the play.
The assistant director and author of the music is Miro Bartoš, professional Pilsen theater opera singer.
Don’t forget, you can enjoy the premiere of the first performance of the Roma theater Trajo at the D21 theater on May 30!
She is also the co-author of the play Djelem, djelem, which deals with migration to the United Kingdom.
The author of the script is talented Kateřina Volánková, who collected individual stories of the Roma from Rokycany, and created a unique story and the way of storytelling. Kateřina, a professional theater director, is also the director of this play which features amateur Roma actors from Rokycany.
The authentic story featuring the experience of several Rokycany women from their migration to Britain, evoke a controversial mixture of emotions - sadness, joy, gaiety, humor. Spectators are fully drawn into the action throughout the play.
The assistant director and author of the music is Miro Bartoš, professional Pilsen theater opera singer.
Don’t forget, you can enjoy the premiere of the first performance of the Roma theater Trajo at the D21 theater on May 30!
STORYTELLING
If you want to experience a memorable, charming evening, full of narration of excellent Roma narrators, you must not miss the event at the Štvanice Villa.
The Roma tradition of evenings where people tell sad and jolly stories full of tension, emotions, humor, and vibrant life philosophy, belong to the oldest and most beautiful traditions.
On May 30, starting at 21 hours, we will share stories with you, told in a circle of authors, readers, and critics. They will be joined by story tellers of the Paramisara club of Roma writers which functions under Slovo 21, z.s.
The individual stories will be laced with Roma songs, thus adding to the perfect atmosphere of the evening.
The Roma tradition of evenings where people tell sad and jolly stories full of tension, emotions, humor, and vibrant life philosophy, belong to the oldest and most beautiful traditions.
On May 30, starting at 21 hours, we will share stories with you, told in a circle of authors, readers, and critics. They will be joined by story tellers of the Paramisara club of Roma writers which functions under Slovo 21, z.s.
The individual stories will be laced with Roma songs, thus adding to the perfect atmosphere of the evening.
MONODRAMA DAJORI
The original drama project of actor, singer, and director Pavlína Matiová. Dajori (Mother), supported by Ara Art, z.s., is a monodrama mapping stories and themes of Roma women on the background of the historical milestones of the 20th century.
The scenario combines a dramatization of existing literary works and narratives of personal stories using authentic documents.
Four heroines represented by one actress will lead spectators through almost one century of pre-and post-war Czechoslovakia. By ups and downs of their life stories they answer the question of what it means to be a woman-Roma in society (in both the Roma and the majority societies) which is dynamically changing, often disrespecting those who cannot defend themselves.
Besides actress Pavlína Matiová, other actors include well-known Roma musicians Milan Kroka, Tibor Žida a Roman Zorba.
If you are a theater enthusiast, and if you want to absorb artistic experience and themes to think about, you should not miss the performance at the D21 theater on June 1.
The scenario combines a dramatization of existing literary works and narratives of personal stories using authentic documents.
Four heroines represented by one actress will lead spectators through almost one century of pre-and post-war Czechoslovakia. By ups and downs of their life stories they answer the question of what it means to be a woman-Roma in society (in both the Roma and the majority societies) which is dynamically changing, often disrespecting those who cannot defend themselves.
Besides actress Pavlína Matiová, other actors include well-known Roma musicians Milan Kroka, Tibor Žida a Roman Zorba.
If you are a theater enthusiast, and if you want to absorb artistic experience and themes to think about, you should not miss the performance at the D21 theater on June 1.
HOW I HAVE BECOME A PARTISAN
Screening of ground a groundbreaking documentary feature film by talented Romani filmmaker Vera Lackova will be sure to make Khamoro even more interesting for everyone.
The theme of the documentary is closely related to the director’s family. She learned about her great-grandfather’s story who was a Roma partisan, from her grandmother. Because of his participation in the resistance movement, his six-member family was killed in the war – they included two babies, two older sisters, his wife, and his mother. He was interned in a concentration camp at that time, and he learned about the tragedy after he returned home. After the war he married again to a woman with a similar fate – her husband was murdered by Germans. The great-grandfather had three daughters with her, the youngest of whom was the director’s grandmother.
„It is not much known about Roma in the resistance movement. They are mostly thought of as holocaust victims. But there is no awareness of them as heroes, “says Vera Lacková.
Her documentary is packed with emotions and a great deal of tension because Vera had to develop an almost detective effort when collecting facts.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the protagonists of the documentary.
The theme of the documentary is closely related to the director’s family. She learned about her great-grandfather’s story who was a Roma partisan, from her grandmother. Because of his participation in the resistance movement, his six-member family was killed in the war – they included two babies, two older sisters, his wife, and his mother. He was interned in a concentration camp at that time, and he learned about the tragedy after he returned home. After the war he married again to a woman with a similar fate – her husband was murdered by Germans. The great-grandfather had three daughters with her, the youngest of whom was the director’s grandmother.
„It is not much known about Roma in the resistance movement. They are mostly thought of as holocaust victims. But there is no awareness of them as heroes, “says Vera Lacková.
Her documentary is packed with emotions and a great deal of tension because Vera had to develop an almost detective effort when collecting facts.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the protagonists of the documentary.
EXHIBITION OPEN ROAD
This year’s Khamoro will also feature a closed preview of a unique exhibition Open Road, prepared by the Museum of Roma Culture in Brno. In the following two years, selected works of art will be displayed in a beautiful setting of the Ethnographic Museum at the Kinský Summerhouse.
The exhibition portrays the 30-year-long activity of the Museum of Roma Culture in Brno. External curators Petra Hanáková and Emília Rigová dropped a probe into the museum’s collection through which they introduce rich activities of this institution.
The exhibition will feature personalities of creative art and key themes of Roma artists or amateur craftsmen. It is a combination of a gallery - „great masters “– with a museum concept of „open depository “.
The exhibition portrays the 30-year-long activity of the Museum of Roma Culture in Brno. External curators Petra Hanáková and Emília Rigová dropped a probe into the museum’s collection through which they introduce rich activities of this institution.
The exhibition will feature personalities of creative art and key themes of Roma artists or amateur craftsmen. It is a combination of a gallery - „great masters “– with a museum concept of „open depository “.
PARADE
On Friday afternoon the center of Prague will be the site of a colorful parade of participants in this year’s Khamoro. The traditional parade is perhaps the most attractive event of the festival for many Prague citizens.
More than a hundred performers, children’s folk ensembles from all over the Czech Republic, flag bearers, festival’s friends and visitors of the historical city center will start off from Wenceslas Square, pass the Na Příkopě boulevard and end up at Old Town Square, accompanied by vibrant music and dancing spree of some three thousand participants.
You can experience something like that only once a year – at Khamoro! So, join our parade to savor the incredible and memorable atmosphere!
More than a hundred performers, children’s folk ensembles from all over the Czech Republic, flag bearers, festival’s friends and visitors of the historical city center will start off from Wenceslas Square, pass the Na Příkopě boulevard and end up at Old Town Square, accompanied by vibrant music and dancing spree of some three thousand participants.
You can experience something like that only once a year – at Khamoro! So, join our parade to savor the incredible and memorable atmosphere!
CHILDREN’S DAY
A traditional, inseparable part of the festival is an afternoon dedicated to children. There will be a plethora of music and dance workshops, performances of Roma children folklore ensembles, street dancers, and Roma music bands. A unique wood-carved merry-go-round made by Matěj Holub will again be one of the main attractions for children.
There will also be many different competitions and surprises for both children and their parents. All these memorable activities will take place in the beautiful Portheimka Park.
Come to enjoy a pleasant family afternoon with Khamoro 22!
There will also be many different competitions and surprises for both children and their parents. All these memorable activities will take place in the beautiful Portheimka Park.
Come to enjoy a pleasant family afternoon with Khamoro 22!
TRADITIONAL ROMA MUSIC CONCERTS
Khamoro festival attendees are most looking forward to concerts and a traditional Romani music galaconcert, which are an integral part of the programme. This year is not an exception.
A total of seven Roma bands from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, France, Russia and Serbia will be presented during Thursday and Friday's concert from 7 p.m. at Club La Fabrika. All musical groups will introduce themselves again during Saturday's gala concert at the Divadlo Archa. With special guests - dancers and singers from a Ukrainian-Romani ensemble named Romans, who escaped to Poland during invasion in Ukraine.
A total of seven Roma bands from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, France, Russia and Serbia will be presented during Thursday and Friday's concert from 7 p.m. at Club La Fabrika. All musical groups will introduce themselves again during Saturday's gala concert at the Divadlo Archa. With special guests - dancers and singers from a Ukrainian-Romani ensemble named Romans, who escaped to Poland during invasion in Ukraine.
KHAMORO 2022 »
24th WORLD ROMA FESTIVAL
An event that brings people together.
Khamoro has established itself as a society-wide cultural event that Prague and the entire Czech Republic can take pride in. The festival is visited by many, not just Roma. Everybody can enjoy Romani culture regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. That is our mission.
Since it’s beginning in 1999, Khamoro has always been supported by many influential people – from respected politicians (such as Václav Havel, Daniel Herman, Adriana Krnacova) to popular starts (Tereza Maxová, Vladimír 518, Jana Cinu) and many others.
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