It is generally known that the Roma are one of the oldest peoples in this area. Their culture, tradition, language and colorful folklore have been well known to the outside world for centuries. It contains elements of history, tradition and everyday life of the Roma. Roma have been and will be the motive of non-Roma and through the film, music, the literary word and many other works. But how much are the Roma valued to be able to present their rich history, culture, tradition, language through cultural events. I can say that the Roma are not appreciated at all and at least helped to present their cultural values.
But why? As much as it is the fault of the state institutions, it is also the fault of ourselves! While in the past (three - four decades ago), that cultural phenomenon of the Roma was more or less present, one gets the impression that today that phenomenon simply does not exist. What would people say like "The Last Mohawks" are making some efforts to preserve that cultural identity of the Roma through the last functional manifestations lpk organized by for example the Romano Ilo Association from Skopje, the Ensemble Rushid Shakir from Kumanovo, SP BTR Production Filstno Z and after a theatrical performance, etc.
At the beginning I said that due to the lack of interest of the state, which is now reduced to a minimum by the Roma cultural activists themselves. The state does not care that due to the application of projects of the Ministry of Culture or the Film Fund of Macedonia and to request real funds for activities, they from the total demand will respond to barely 10-15% of the applications, and with 30% allocated funds from requested.
And with those means the cultural identity of a nation should be maintained. How? Hard!
One or two years ago, a National Action Plan for the development of Roma culture was made, at the initiative of Roma cultural workers, which was handed over to the then Minister without portfolio Muzafer Bajram and his cabinet associates to prepare. Unfortunately, after several meetings, that plan was made by those assistants from the Cabinet of the Minister without portfolio, but there was no budget item in the preparation of that plan, and as such it should have been handed over to the Ministry of Culture, which did not was handed over for a simple reason - because there was no budget amount of funds needed, and so due to the incompetence of that cabinet and its assistants that plan remained only on paper without any realization. And who will now have to take responsibility for that. As a reward for that engagement, they were rewarded with new and better positions in the state administration.
And as the old saying goes, "Until the baby cries, the mother will not even breastfeed him." So it is with us. That is why I am of the opinion that now, with the start of 2021, we need to "wake up" and ask for what is due to us in a cultural way in the name of Roma culture. And this is a new action plan and strategy for the development of Roma culture, but with a specific budget, with specific requirements and with specific activities and potential requirements. No one can be included in those plans, and who for years "did not move" a finger for the Roma culture can now suddenly be favored. It is known in these areas who were and who are the main promoters of Roma Culture. I can mention as an example that about 15 years ago I made a successful attempt to promote the magazines for children and youth "Cirikli" and "Vilo" which was read in primary schools among Roma children and was distributed free of charge. I have been doing that enthusiasm for over 15 years with minimal funds. Today, many "Roma intellectuals" have taken funds to publish Romani grammars, textbooks and manuals in Romani, but where are those books? Are they usable and functional at all, or have they just completed their "episodically profitable role" and that's it! As far as I know, children are educated only with the vocabulary and grammar of the late Dr. Trajko Petrovski.
It is time for people with potential, knowledge, experience in that area to "roll up their sleeves" and take the right steps. There should be no people "improvisers" and episodic cultural promoters.
It means an activity with more specific goals, which are: Preservation and promotion of Roma folklore and tradition, publishing and literature in Romani language and support of Roma authors, theater, music, Roma, art, film, and one of The main goals - Increasing the number of Roma and their Roma representatives in state bodies, bodies and commissions, inclusion of Roma representatives in the Council of Culture, as well as Roma representatives in the commission for adopting the annual program of the Ministry of Culture.
Also, a very important moment is to actualize the question of what further and in what way can and should function the Museum of Art and Music of Esma and Stevo Teodosievski, which is currently stuck in the court labyrinths. I am here and I can help here as well.
Only in this way can we take a step further in preserving the Roma culture and tradition. Nothing is done with passivity. The danger is here before us because - A people without a cultural tradition and its own cultural institution, is a dead people! And for the start of the activities in the above-mentioned spheres of Roma culture, in my opinion, 1,000,000 euros per year are enough.
