On May 21, 2015, at the Roma Informational Cultural-Educational Center “Chirikli,” located within Library No. 142 in Kyiv, the opening of an interactive book exhibition titled “Roma of Ukraine: Traditions and Culture” took place.
The exhibition, composed of books from the personal scientific library of Natalia Zinevych, a Ph.D. in historical sciences and senior researcher at the M.S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, was presented. The exhibition featured books and albums related to Roma themes in Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and German languages. Besides providing information about the authors and the main content of the books, the presentation participants had the opportunity to learn about four areas of traditional Roma activities and professions in Ukraine: musical performance, metalworking, horsemanship, and showcasing trained animals. The narratives were accompanied by thematic illustrations from the corresponding sections of the showcased books and readings from folk and literary texts. The theme of traditional Roma occupations from past centuries alternated with an exploration of the transformations in these traditional Roma livelihoods during the second half of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. This allowed for the presentation to uncover the cultural code of Roma traditions and the mobile lifestyle of the past and, in some instances, the present, by engaging attendees with illustrative visuals and rich narratives, aiming to dispel existing stereotypes.
Among the audience and event participants were teachers and librarians from district libraries. At the end of the presentation, attendees were invited to join the friends of the Roma Center by filling out questionnaires, in which they could suggest interesting topics and directions for future work. Notably, the questionnaires often indicated a desire to learn more about: family and calendar rituals, folk knowledge, beliefs, and folklore of Roma not only in Ukraine but also in other countries; famous Roma dynasties; and traditions in child rearing. Participants also expressed their willingness to take part in cultural events organized by the Roma community in Kyiv, such as attending concerts, festivals, and video presentations.
The Ukrainian Roma poetess Rani Romani (Raissa Nabaranchuk) also addressed the attendees. She shared her impressions of the presentation, discussed the creative biography of the classic of Roma literature, Mihai Kozimir, recited his poems in both Roma and Ukrainian languages, and presented her own poetic works.
The exhibition became the first cultural event organized at the recently opened Roma center. It was held in a mobile format throughout May and June 2015. The exhibition was designed for a wide audience, with planned presentations for both Roma youth and high school students in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. A quest was proposed for the younger audience, aiming to engage listeners actively, simulating the effect of immersing them into the world of Roma culture.
