On August 8, International Romani Song Day will be held for the fifth time; this year, it will welcome audiences with free concerts at 11 venues in seven countries. The Hungarian hub for the world’s largest one-day Romani music festival will be the Hungarian House of Music, where leading performers from the Hungarian and international Romani music scenes will take the stage.

International Romani Song Day is held every year on August 8, the birthday of the legendary North Macedonian singer Esma Redžepova. This year’s event holds special significance, as the festival also pays tribute to the memory of the artist, who passed away ten years ago. Now in its fifth year, the event has grown into a truly international festival. In addition to Hungary, France, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Slovakia, and Romania are also joining the series of events, during which nearly thirty bands will take the stage.

The initiative is associated with Mihály “Mazsi” Rostás, and the organizer is the International Roma and World Music Network. The festival aims to showcase the diversity of Romani culture as well as the rich musical heritage that has shaped European culture for centuries.

This year’s main venue in Hungary will be the Hungarian House of Music, where three special concerts await attendees. The Polish group Megitza will perform, followed by Mónika Lakatos and Romengo, featuring cimbalom player Jenő Lisztes; and to close out the evening, Serbian trumpet virtuoso Bojan Krstić and his band will bring the Balkan vibe to the stage.

However, the festival extends far beyond Budapest. Free concerts are also being organized in Százhalombatta, Hódmezővásárhely, Oroszlány, and Beremend, while at international venues, a wide range of genres will be represented—from flamenco to Balkan brass bands to traditional Romani folk music.

According to the organizers, this is precisely what makes the event so special: the musical expressions of the same culture, as developed in different countries, come together on a single day. The programs feature not only Romani ensembles but also bands that incorporate Romani songs into their own repertoires. One of the most moving moments of the day occurs at the same time at every venue, when the performers join together to sing the international anthem of the Romani people, the song titled Gelem, Gelem.

Romani music is one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural heritages. From Spanish flamenco to Serbian brass bands to Hungarian Olah Romani music, it encompasses countless styles, while also bearing the marks of local traditions in every country. In Hungary, this heritage is particularly rich, encompassing restaurant Romani music, Olah Romani folk music, and Hungarian string-based folk music, which have been influencing one another for centuries.

One of the festival’s featured performers is Romengo. Founded by Mónika Lakatos and Mihály “Mazsi” Rostás, the ensemble is the best-known international representative of authentic Hungarian Olah Romani music, regularly performing not only in Europe but also at prestigious world music festivals in North and South America. In 2020, Mónika Lakatos became the first Central and Eastern European Romani artist to receive the WOMEX Artist Award for lifetime achievement.

International Romani Song Day is free to attend at all venues, so anyone can be part of this musical journey that connects seven countries for a single day through the common language of Romani culture.

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