The Roma
Community & Advocacy Centre of Toronto, Canada, has produced
the first-ever booklet of Canadian Romani Poems entitled Kanadake-Romane
Mirikle (Canadian Romani Pearls). This 71 page booklet contains poems
by Canadian-born Roma, Roma immigrants and Roma refugees. The poets are
Hedina Sijercic, Mario Iñes-Torres, Julia Lovell, Ronald Lee, Nina
Bottaccini, Amdi Asanoski, Aranka Mihalovits and Ron Bankley.
As well as the poems, in English or in Romani or Spanish with English
translations, the booklet gives an historical overview of Romani poetry/ballads
in Canada, an article on Kali Sara or Saint Sara whose representation appears
on the front cover, and the Romani Anthem, Opre Roma, in English
and Romani, with the music as well as a description of how the anthem came
to be written and an account of the formation of the Romani Union on April
8, 1971 where the anthem, the Romani flag and the resolution to approach
the United Nations for NGO [Non-Governmental Organisation] Status
were officially adopted. It also contains an index and a glossary of Romani
words.
The booklet was prepared for Roma Night, a Canadian Roma poetry
reading and music jam at the Plaza Flamingo on April 8, 1999, to commemorate
International Romani Day. This was a great success and the first time in
Toronto that a Romani event was organized by Roma for Roma and the general
public. Proceeds from the sale of the poetry booklet will go towards supporting
the work of the Roma Community
& Advocacy Centre which is a non-profit organization. To order
your copy of the poetry booklet which will become a collector’s item please
send cheques as follows which includes postage and packaging:
Within Canada $12 Canadian funds; within the US $12 US funds; overseas
$14 US funds. Please make cheques payable to: