Roma and Ashkali in Kosovo
- A Clarification of Terms -
Roma and Ashkali in Kosovo - A Clarification of Terms The Roma´s native language is Romanes, which derived from the Sanskrit; for the Ashkali it is Albanian. Roma consider the Ashkali to be assimilated Roma; many Ashkali, however, deny a Roma identity and say that they have a completely different ethnic background. Culturally, they feel Albanian. One group of Ashkali believes its ancestors go back to the Egyptian soldiers of Alexander the Great. They call themselves "Egyptians". Among the Roma there are several subgroups, e.g. the Arlia, Dschambasi or Kovaci. Roma and Ashkali belong to many different religions: besides the Muslim majority (Sunni and Dervish) there are Serbian-Orthodox and Catholic Christians and members of Protestant free churches like Jehova´s Witnesses, Pentecostals, and Adventists. But most Albanians are not interested in these differences at all: for them, the Roma and Ashkali/Egyptians are all "Madschup" - that means "Gypsies" (with a very negative connotation) -even though a friendly relationship often used to exist between neighbourhoods and celebrations were held together. After Tito´s death, however, the Roma and Ashkali/Egyptians were increasingly caught in the crossfire between Serbs and Albanians. They were forced to take sides and were called traitors even when they tried to keep out of the conflict, as many did. The term "Rom" stands for a male member of the Rom, a Rom-woman is called "Romni". Both groups, Roma and Ashkali, are generally referred to together in this text. Where - for layout-reasons - only the term "Roma" is used, as in the headings, the term is meant to include Ashkali/Egyptians. The traditional flag of the Roma is a red wheel on a green-blue background. Green stands for the earth, blue for the sky, and the red wheel today stands for the Roma's longing for freedom in the countries where they have been settled for generations.