History

Since 2005, Romani Yag has created, produced and been involved in over twenty events which combine Romani music, dance, conferences, round tables, workshops, exhibits and films, first in North America – most notably with the Romani Yag Festival (Montreal, 2005 & 2007) – and since 2008 in Europe. In author Colum McCann’s words about Romani Yag: “Bringing music, literature and scholarship together under one roof is a fusion, not a collision (…) The artists, the viewers, the musicians, the listeners are brought together in order that we can all, eventually, recognise our abiding similarities and appreciate our differences.”

Ljuba Radman, founder, president and driving force of Romani Yag, was born into a Croatian-German family in Belgium. She first came into contact with Romani artists and activists as a child. Following her degree in Political Science at the University of Birmingham, she became active in the arts world through film in Paris and later through theatre in Montreal. There, she founded Romani Yag (the organisation and the festival), she wrote, directed and produced the musical play “Romano Drom” about the history of the Roma people and she created events dedicated to Romani culture for four years. Since 2008, she has been continuing Romani Yag’s actions in Europe (see “What we do” in the main menu).