Welcome to Romanistan: an intimate festival in celebration of Romani Art & Culture is the first of its kind held in the sultry swamps of New Orleans. In true Romani style, over the course of several days, this festival will include a family style dinner, art & altar installations, performances, lively music, storytelling, fortune telling and intimate discussions of spiritual traditions. The festival also marks the release of Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling, a book by Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens, co-hosts of Romanistan podcast. This one of a kind book re-centers Romani culture and survival trades in the art of divination, especially tarot, palmistry, and tea leaf reading, and serves as a how-to guide. The Welcome to Romanistan festival is a joyful, inclusive, and intimate homage to our Romani ancestors, the Indian diaspora also known by the slur and misnomer Gypsies, whose bones and blood are forever bound to the roads our hearts traverse. We also honor and spotlight Roma today whose cultural stewardship serves as beacons of hope in the reclaiming of our power within the diaspora. Romani art, culture, and music has been an enduring source of intrigue and influence, yet few outsiders have truly seen what it means to be Roma. Now we’re officially inviting you to the party!

 

ROMANI ROOTS & HISTORY:

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While the Roma originated in Northwest India (circa 10th century), the art, culture, and diaspora of the Romani people have a long untold history on Turtle Island (The United States.) Our diaspora reached the Americas by way of nearly 500 years of Romani enslavement in present-day Romania (1370s-1856); with the first Romani people arriving as early as the late 1490’s, enslaved by the first Spanish colonizers. Romani roots run deep in the land of Balbancha as well, with countless numbers of enslaved Roma arriving to the bayous and swamps of Louisiana during the 1700’s until our European emancipation in 1856. Roma continue to face persecution and exclusion worldwide, and our history is both bruised by diaspora and blessed in our resilient celebration of community and life. Although so much of our contributions to popular culture, music, art and even new age spirituality has been woefully ignored or intentionally erased, the brilliance of Romani ingenuity, culture and artistry can never be diminished. 

 

It is in this spirit that we bid you Welcome to Romanistan! 

 

We want to thank our sponsors Weiser Books, Cottage Magick, Arbor House Floral & Fragrance, New Orleans Shrimp Boil Cabaret, and Krewe Du Costume for making this festival possible. Our heartfelt gratitude to Hotel Saint Peter & Paul, Mudlark Public Theater, Boxcar Gallery, Shrimp Boil Cabaret, The Vampire Apothecary & Cottage Magick for hosting our festivities! Finally we extend an extra special thanks to Wes Rose-Moon for designing the stunning poster for our festival.