Romani Literature Identity… and You

A charity benefit by Trafika Europe Romani Literature Identity… and You to support the European Roma Rights Centre with an evening of new Roma writing art discussion and performance This evening gala will include: new and newly translated Romani fiction and poetry; musical performance; a modest charity art auction and an expert roundtable on issues of Roma identity in Europe. Participants include: George Szirtes T.S. Eliot Prize-winning UK-Hungarian poet who has just won Best Translated Book Award for 2013; David Morley the top UK Roma poet and translator with 14 literary awards; Hedina Sijerčić Canadian-Bosnian Roma poet novelist and journalist and Nick Thorpe BBC correspondent for Central Europe roundtable moderator Dezideriu Gergely Executive Director European Roma Rights Centre Dan Doghi Higher Education Program Manager Roma Education Fund We will also feature work from several other Roma poets and writers: poetry by Károly Bari; a short film by poet and painter amigó (János Bogdán); poetry by László Sárközi and excerpts from Swiss Roma Mariella Mehr’s psychological novel: stoneage …plus a full musical programme featuring: the uplifting unplugged reggae sounds of Brina ( https://www.facebook.com/BrinaReggae ) Hungarian Roma solo jazz violinist László Váradi from the Snétberger Musical Talent Centre helping gifted but underprivileged Roma musicians across Central Europe with world-class mentoring support and professional development. Our aim with this event is to foster appreciation of new Romani writing foreground social issues and raise regard of Roma contributions in the wider European community. The roundtable will draw from the literary works themselves to discuss issues of identity and the underlying context and conditions of Roma communities in Europe. This is a charity event to benefit the Budapest-based European Roma Rights Centre ( ERRC ) a vital Roma human rights NGO too little-known outside their sphere of advocacy. Since 1996 the ERRC has helped Roma communities combat discrimination and seek equal access to justice education housing health care and public services and has won numerous awards for its work advancing human rights for Roma. Tickets: £12 advance. ( Roma girl in Prizren Kosovo. Image taken by Charles Fred.) For press inquiries and reservations: editor@trafikaeurope.org .