Romania, 25th to 30th June 2018

A FESTIVAL CREATED BY ROMA, IN A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THEM

Destination : a small village almost at the end of the world, where you'll need one travel day from Bucharest, by two trains, a bus and then a gypsy wagon. Welcome to Ceuas (pronounced Tchaywash). The best kept secret of Eastern Europe.

During five days (and five nights...) the aim of the festival is to offer guests the opportunity to discover, play and dance to a rromani music freshly taken out of life's water well.

ROMA AND 'GADJE' PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER, LET'S START FROM THAT

What a crazy idea at a time when "world music" festivals beat all audience records. In remote Ceuas, villagers just hope they can share with a few amateurs their unknown tradition. As they still cherish their "songs of the ancients" which are due to extinction under the monopole of commercial and industrial music. Today, indeed, the machines are more likely to be in charge of the numerous marriages in the area. Thus, the Roma musicians are obliged to put aside their violins in order to grasp a shovel and a spade and 'play' on agricultural farms.

Despite this pessimistic facts, the Ceuas people will not give up. Taking things in charge, they wanted to invent their own festival. But do not be fooled by the word. They will not have any stage, nor projectors. And not too much money either. Just enough to allow continuity of transmission to future generations.

Thus, the Roma open their doors to Romanians and Westerners (the 'Gadje') who will have enough courage to share their every-day life, learn their music and improvise together. As the creator of the festival, Shanyika Mezei says, we need courage to play music and to forget that we're Roma or Romanian.

Shanyika already did the math : building dry toilets, extra showers, mattresses, food, salary for cooks and musicians. In conclusion : in order to see the daylight, this project needs a little help. Please support this humanitarian, exemplary, generous and visionary initiative, by donating 5€ or more. Your contribution will make the whole difference.

In return, you will receive a copy of the ongoing documentary film about Ceuas, an autographed photo, or even a personalised song played for you and sent on video by email.

Contributing is also the best way to be informed of the sequel of our adventure. As we will not stop to spread the love.

WHY CONTRIBUTE ?

Movies about Roma are very successful. Reality is not. Why are they coming to Western Europe ? Because in the country where they are most present, Romania, they are seen as a sub-species, mean people that always end up doing something wrong. Rarely do Roma and 'Gadje' speak to each other and truly meet, in a peaceful environment. Most Romanians don't even know the history of this people, namely the slavery episode that ended just 160 years ago. Nomadic people, probably extracted by force from Northern India, vassals during the feudal period, decimated during the Second World War, sedentarised by force during the communist era, having therefore forgotten their crafts, and today despised for the resulting poverty.

With this in mind, there is a great surprise to arrive in this remote Roma village, lost somewhere in Transylvania. Luminous people, a feeling of joy and great energy, colourful and neat houses, kindness and benevolence, but also three or four very poor families, a lot of dirty and clothesless children, trying their best to get something to eat.

Why is it so ? Having given it a great deal of thought, we can say : ignorance, from many points of view. But the most urgent one, is Romanians' and also some Europeans' towards this culture.

How can we fix it ? Little by little.

This festival is one possible way.

The Rromani people from Ceuas, Romania, are carrying a unique musical tradition, which has even been the object of an ethnomusicology study (Filippo Bonini Baraldi - Tsiganes, musique et empathie). Yet, the musicians are witnessing a loss of interest in their skills and the perpetuation of extreme poverty and social exclusion of their community. The Ceaus Music Festival will bring a sustainable source of income to the whole community.

During the '80s, the musicians from this village were touring all over United-States and Japan, and spreading the sound of their vigorous violins that speaks directly to the heart. Sándor, young musician at the time, came back to the village with a bag full of cash, which he distributed freely. Hence a myth remained : where did all that money go ? Sándor's son, Shanyika, the current leader of the musicians, sees things with more pragmatic eyes. He want to create a regular and sustainable revenue, that the community can share by being directly involved.

If "Romanians don't like Tsiganes" (as Shanyika admits with a melancholic voice), the opposite is not true. Despite a widely shared prejudice, Romanians are very well received in this little medieval looking village. As are the many Westerners that ended up there (some as a result of Filippo Bonini's book).

THE DAILY SCHEDULE

During the festival, all guests (musicians and dancers, professionals and beginners) will share houses with the Roma musicians in Ceuas. In the day time, there will be 4 hours of dance and music classes for those who want to practice their Rromani skills. This is also a great opportunity to see how tradition is taught, as it differs greatly from our common music classes. Sightseeing and cultural tours will be organised in the surroundings, by horse-driven wagon. An introduction class to Roma culture and language will be given for all those who are interested. During the evening, the Roma musicians and dancers will give shows where everyone is welcome to participate and improvise. The locations will change regularly and according to the weather between the village cultural center, the village plazas and individual garden spaces.

NO STAGE, NO DIVISION

Everyone knows how to dance and play some music, so everyone is welcome regardless of the expertise ! Wether guests want to participate or just observe, it's up to them, but here we do not make a difference between the performers and the public.

According to the values of traditional music, this festival will not have any stage, projectors, sound system or backstage. Musicians, dancers and the public are all actors of the same space. This is, at our modest scale, a counter weight to the 'folklorization' of world music, back to a world where music and everyday life are one and the same.

Should you wish to join us, please visit our website for further details. Due to the remote location, registration in advance is compulsory (the deadline is 25th May 2018).

TAKING CARE OF THE TRANSMISSION

The many children in the village will therefore see that their music is appreciated and that being a musician is a good way to earn a living.

The kids are already rehearsing for the festival. Let's make it worth it !

CEUAS MUSIC FESTIVAL

CEUAS MUSIC FESTIVAL