Roma people of Vojvodina

Roma people are one of ethnic groups in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. According to the 2002 census, there were 29,057 Roma in Vojvodina or 1.43% of the population. The largest concentration of Roma could be found in the municipalities of Nova Crnja (6.83%), Beočin (6.51%), and Novi Kneževac (5.04%).

History

First Roma settled in the territory of present-day Vojvodina during Ottoman rule in the 16th century. In Ottoman times, Roma mostly lived in the towns and cities, but also in the villages, usually in their separate quarters called "cigan-mala". They usually were forgers, manger makers or musicians. Especially large number of Roma settled in the area in the 17th and 18th century, when Austrian authorities issued several provisions about Roma (in 1761, 1767, and 1783). During the 1848/1849 revolution, Roma people were on the side of the Serbs. During World War II, Roma people, together with Serbs and Jews, were persecuted by Axis authorities, thus many Roma participated in anti-fascist struggle against Axis occupation.

Geography

Number of Roma in Vojvodina by district (2002 census):
*South Bačka District: 6,053
*West Bačka District: 1,941
*North Bačka District: 1,680
*North Banat District: 3,944
*Central Banat District: 5,682
*South Banat District: 6,268
*Srem District: 3,489

There are no settlements in Vojvodina with Roma majority, but there are several city neighbourhoods and suburbs populated mainly by Roma:
*Bangladeš, a Roma-inhabited suburb of Novi Sad.
*Depresija, a Roma-inhabited neighbourhood of Novi Sad.
*Šangaj, a Roma-inhabited neighbourhood of Novi Sad.
*Veliki Rit, a Roma-inhabited neighbourhood of Novi Sad.
*Mali London, a Roma-inhabited neighbourhood of Pančevo.

ubgroups

Living in the multiethnic region of Vojvodina, Roma people are integrated with other ethnic groups, especially with Serbs, Romanians and Hungarians, thus, depending of the group with which they are integrated, Roma are usually known as "Serbian Roma", "Romanian Roma", "Hungarian Roma", etc.

Culture

Radio Television of Vojvodina broadcasts daily programme in Roma language and there are other publications in the Roma language as well.

Notable Roma from Vojvodina

*Trifun Dimić, romologist and literate.
*Janika Balaž, a famous tamburitza musician.
*Boža Nikolić, folk singer.

References

*Dr. Rajko Đurić, Istorija Roma, Beograd, 2006.
*Dr. Dušan J. Popović, Srbi u Vojvodini, knjiga 1, Novi Sad, 1990.

ee also

*Roma in Central and Eastern Europe
*Roma people in Serbia

External links

* [http://www.nshc.org.yu/eng_nshc/eng_roma.htm Roma People in Vojvodina]
* [http://www.romadecade.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=221&Itemid=50 Participation of Roma in the government in Vojvodina]

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