Romani anthem

Gelem, Gelem is the anthem of Romani people. It is known by many (often similar names) including "Gyelem, Gyelem," "Dzelem, Dzelem," "Djelem, Djelem," "Ђелем, Ђелем (cyrillic)," "Opré Roma," and "Romale Shavale."

Inspired by the devastation of the Porajmos, Jarko Jovanovic composed the words and set them to a traditional melody. The song was adopted by delegates of the first World Romani Congress in 1971.

Lyrics

Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensa
Maladilem bakhtale Romensa
A Romale katar tumen aven,
E tsarensa bahktale dromensa?

A Romale, A Chavale

Vi man sas ek bari familiya,
Murdadas la e kali legiya
Aven mansa sa lumniake Roma,
Kai putaile e romane droma
Ake vriama, usti Rom akana,
Men khutasa misto kai kerasa

A Romale, A Chavale

I went, I went on long roads
I met happy Roma
O Roma where do you come from,
With tents on happy roads?

O Roma, O fellow Roma

I once had a great family,
The Black Legions murdered them
Come with me Roma from all the world
For the Romani roads have opened
Now is the time, rise up Roma now,
We will rise high if we act

O Roma, O fellow Roma

References

• Patrin Web Journal - Gelem, Gelem: Romani Anthem

External links

• The Score to Gelem Gelem
• Kosovo Roma Oral History Project - Roma Culture: Music
• [1]Loyko: Djelem