The Roma community [editar]
There are thought to be around 20 million Roma people living in the world. In Europe, it is estimated that there are around 12 million Roma people. They are a minority with a shared place of origin, with their own traits and cultural values, yet are a diverse, heterogeneous
people.
It is estimated that there are more than 750 000 Roma in Spain, although the exact number is unknown. Around 40% are natives of Andalusia.
Roma people have a rich cultural heritage and an identity, values and customs that each country must look after and protect.
History
The Roma are a people originally from India, whose presence in Spain has been documented for six centuries and who keep their identity and extraordinary cultural creativity alive.
Progress and challenges. Roma today.
45 years of progress in Spain
As part of Spanish society, the Roma community has also made great progress in recent decades despite daily rejection and inequality. Slums have practically been eradicated; more and more young Roma are enrolled at university, and today there are Roma in all professions.
Roma maintain cultural traits and share values and identity elements, as well as a strong sense of belonging that adds value to their citizenship.
Symbols of identity and institutional recognition
Culture
The rich Roma culture has contributed a lot to universal art and has also received important influences.
Flamenco, intangible cultural heritage of humanity, is a universal art appreciated in every corner of the world.
Credits
Most of the texts in this section are based on the publication "Romani Lesson", published in November 2018 by Fundación Secretariado Gitano. Illustrations by Daniel Belchí for the Romani Lesson campaign and photographs by FSG and Jesús Salinas.