Translation Romani has decided to maintain use of the word Romani in all language versions of this website, inclusively and in reference both to the language and people of all the diverse ethnic communities throughout the world, i.e. Roma, Sinti, Manuš, Calé, Romanichal, Kalé, and many others. Please read the important notes from our translators for explanations and other translations currently in use locally, nationally or regionally.
Close this box.Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić has been working as Coordinator for Roma in The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a Romni (Romani woman) who has lived in multiple languages and in rich dialogue with at least three cultures -Balkan, Western European‚ and North American- she continually translates herself and others, bringing insights and artistic expression to her experiences and activist work. Her poem read at the end of the interview is transcribed below in Romani and in English translation.
Phuv
Romnije!
Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,
Pala e Roma,
Del armaja e phuvjache,
Te nashjares shimijake
Te nashjares dushmaja.
Romnije!
Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,
Pala e Roma,
Chuv teleshoreha e phuv
Thaj del armaja kale sudbinache
Te xoxajves bilache
Te xoxajves kali jrat.
Romnije!
Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,
Pala e Roma,
Del e phuvjache choxanipe thaj del cho mrtik pala o kamipe
Nek e jag na thuvljardel
Nek o dumutnipe na buhljarel.
Del o chohanipe, Romnije, del cho mrtik pala las
Voj si chiri, mrni thaj Devleski dej
PHUV.
The Earth
Romnije!
Romnije!
Because of all the dead and all the living,
Because of the Roma,
Put a curse on the Earth
To destroy the rats
To destroy the enemy.
Romnije!
Because of all the dead and all the living,
Because of the Roma
Turn the Earth upside down
And predict black destiny
To distract the devil
To distract the black night.
Romnije!
Because of all the dead and all the living,
Because of the Roma
Cast magic upon the Earth and predict love.
Predict a fire without smoke
Predict damnation with the end.
Cast a magic spell, Romnije, save her!
She is yours, she is mine, Mother of God
THE EARTH.
From Dukh - Pain, published by Magoria Books in 2007.