Djelem, djelem

The song Djelem, djelem (Hungarian Gyelem, gyelem , Serbian and Croatian Đelem, đelem ) is the international anthem of the Roma .

Before the song to the international anthem of the Roma was, it was a traditional Roma love song that during the 1960s, when the Serbian was very popular Roma. Presumably it comes from Romania . It became internationally known through the film Skupljači Perja (1967) by Aleksandar Petrović , where it was interpreted by the Yugoslav actress Olivera Katarina .

In 1969 Žarko Jovanović wrote a new and political text on the melody of this traditional song, which describes the expulsion and murder of the Roma by Croatian fascists - the so-called " Black Legion ". According to other information, Žarko Jovanović wrote this new text together with Jan Cibula during the second World Roma Congress in Geneva in 1978 , organized by Romani Ekhipe or the Romani Union . This version was chosen as the anthem of the Congress for the time being. At this congress it was also decided to establish an anthem for the international Roma civil rights movement. The choice fell on "Djelem, djelem" in the version by Žarko Jovanović.

The song gained further popularity through the interpretations of the Yugoslav singer Šaban Bajramovic , who was also Rome, with his album A Šunen Romalen - Slušajte Me Ljudi (1980), as well as by the singer Esma Redžepova , a Yugoslav Romni who was called Queen of the Gypsies applies. The song also exists in a symphonic instrumental version.

Since there is no uniform written language in Romani , there are different versions of the text, which can also differ slightly in terms of meaning.

Lyrics (excerpt)

Text version of Žarko Jovanović in novels

1st verse Djelem djelem lungone dromesa Maladilem schukare romenza djelem djelem lungone dromesa Maladilem bachtale romenza 2nd stanza Sine man yekh bari familiya Murdadas la i kali legiya Aven mansa sa lumniake Roma Kai putardile e novels droma Ake vriama, usti Rom akana Men khutasa misto kai kerasa Refrain: Ahai, Romale, ahai Chavalle, Ahai, Romale, ahai Chavalle!

Translation: On my very, very long way I met many beautiful Roma On this very, very long journey I met many happy Roma I once had a big family The Black Legion murdered them Roma come with me from all over the world Opened the streets for the Roma Now is the time, like Roma, now We rise when we act Refrain: Ahai, Roma, ahai children, Ahai, Roma, ahai children!

Version by Esma Redžepova, sung in Serbo-Croatian and novels

1st verse: Čerga mala luta preko sveta Kao pčela or cveta do cveta Topot konja daleko se čuje Al´ još dalje pesma odjekuje 2nd stanza: Čerga mala luta preko sveta Kao pčela or cveta do cveta Gelem, gelem lungone dromensa Maladilem shukare romensa 3rd verse: U grudima svakog ciganina Sve dok živi vatre uvek ima Ne može ništa da je zgasi Čak ni suza koja obraz kvasi Refrain: Haj cigani S pesmom rodjeni S pesmom živeli S pesmom umirali

Another version

1st verse: Djelem djelem lungone dromesa Maladilem schukare romenza djelem djelem lungone dromesa Maladilem bachtale romenza Refrain: Ahai, Romale, ahai Chavalle, Ahai, Romale, ahai Charalle 2nd stanza: sasa vi man bari familia murdardarla i kali legia saren chinda vi romen vi romania maschkalende vi zigne swore 3rd verse: Putar Devla te bare wudara Te ka dikav kai si me Manuscha Upre Roma! Akana si wakti Uschten sa te sundale Roma 4th verse: Palem ka djaw lungone dromesa Ta ka pirav schukare Romenza Palem ka djaw lungone dromesa Ta ka pirav bachtale Romenza

translation On my very, very long way I met many beautiful Roma On this very, very long journey I met many happy Roma Ahai, Roma, ahai children Ahai, Roma, ahai children I had a big happy family too They were murdered by the black legion Everyone was killed, men, women even the small children Dear God, open your great gates So I can see where all my people have gone Rise up Roma, it's time! Stand on you tired Roma! And again I will go this long way And I will meet beautiful Roma And on this long, arduous journey I will go along with these happy people

Version by Saban Bajramović

1st verse: Gelem Gelem lungóne droménsa, Maladilém shukare Romensa. Gelem Gelem lungóne droménsa, Maladilem baxtale romenca. Refrain: Oooh, Romalé! Oooh, chavralé! 2nd stanza: Ala voliv lake kale jakha, Kaj si gugle sar duj kale drakha. Ala voliv lake kale jakha, Kaj si gugle sar duj kale drakha. 3rd verse: Kindem lake lolo dikhlo tursko, Ni volil man achel latar pusto. Kindem lake lolo dikhlo tursko, Ni volil man achel latar pusto.

translation I have traveled and traveled far and wide and met many beautiful Roma. I have traveled and traveled far and wide and met many happy Roma. Oh, Roma! Oh children! I love her black eyes so much because they are as sweet as two black grapes. I love her black eyes so much because they are as sweet as two black grapes. I bought her a red turkish scarf, (but) she didn't want me, so he stayed behind. I bought her a red turkish scarf, (but) she didn't want me, so he stayed behind.

Web links

• Full text and German transmission
• Sheet music and English translation ( Memento of December 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
• On the history of the song ( Memento from December 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) (English, with audio samples)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.geocities.com/~patrin/gelem.htm ( Memento from December 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
2. ^ Yale Strom: Uncertain Roads: Searching for the Gypsies, Four Winds Press, 1993 ( Memento of December 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
3. ↑ http://www.geocities.com/~patrin/gelem.htm ( Memento from December 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ A Sunen Romalen 1980 Šaban Bajramović idem, idem, in: Youtube-Kanal von Galati Romani, upload of June 25, 2014
5. ↑ A grand finale with Esma Redzepova, in: Der Freitag, September 14, 2015
6. ↑ Dgelem Dgelem Himno Gitano instrumental Paco Suarez, in: Youtube channel by Gypsy Floyd, uploaded on August 23, 2012
7. ↑ Speech for the opening party of the day care center "Schaworalle" in Frankfurt / Main, translation "Djelem, Djelem" by Lothar Winter and his students from April 23, 2002