The Lom people (Turkish: Lomlar) also known as Bosha (Armenian: Բոշա; Georgian: ბოშა; Russian: Боша; Turkish and Azeri: Poşa or Boşa) or Armenian Gypsies[1] (Russian: армянские цыгане; Armenian: հայ գնչուներ) or Caucasian Gypsies[1] (Russian: кавказские цыгане) are an ethnic group in Transcaucasia.[2] Their Lomavren language is a mixed language combining Indo-Aryan and Armenian.
History [edit]
The Lom like the Dom are sometimes considered a separate branch of the proto-Romani people who remained in Eastern Asia Minor and Armenia in the 11th century, while the ancestors of the contemporary Romani people migrated further west in the 13th-14th centuries. The names Dom, Lom and Rom are likely to have the same origin (see Names of the Romani people for details).
Number [edit]
|
Gypsies in Armenia and Georgia (1926-1989)
|
| Year |
Armenia |
Georgia |
| 1926[3] |
2
|
333
|
| 1939[4] |
7
|
727
|
| 1959[5] |
18
|
1,024
|
| 1970[6] |
12
|
1,224
|
| 1979[7] |
59
|
1,223
|
| 1989[8] |
48
|
1,744
|
The exact number of existing Bosha is difficult to determine, due to the dispersed and often mostly-assimilated nature of the group. Estimates suggest only a few thousand of the people can be found across Armenia and Georgia, while Government census reports only 50 living in the former.[9]
Distribution [edit]
Concentrations of Bosha can be found in Yerevan and Gyumri in Armenia. Some of the Bosha in Armenia have adopted the Armenian language and assimilated with the larger Armenian population.[10] In Georgia they live in such cities as Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.[2] They are noted for such occupations as basket weaving and metalsmithing, which are common among settled Roma.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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