Institute Seminar: Sonic Healing in Christian Roma Communities

On behalf of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, we invite you to a seminar featuring Dr. habil. Kinga Povedák from the University of Szeged, Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, with a presentation titled “Sonic Healing in Christian Roma Communities.”

The event will be held in English on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the meeting room of the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology at Klemensova 19, Bratislava. The seminar will also be accessible online via link HERE.

Abstract

Drawing on ethnographic research among Hungarian-speaking Christian Roma communities in the Gemer region, this lecture explores how believers negotiate their religious and ethnic identities through multiple sonic strategies. Examining a range of musical practices—from those that consciously minimize ethnic markers to grassroots original Roma compositions—reveals how Roma participants simultaneously challenge and reimagine social boundaries. This collective creativity functions as a form of sonic healing, addressing wounded collective identities and fostering social recognition.

By foregrounding religious musicking as a vital coping mechanism, the presentation underscores its role in reshaping marginalized Roma communities’ self-image and resisting racist stereotypes. Ultimately, the lecture posits that investigating musical epistemologies is crucial for understanding the transformative power of religious Roma music in cultivating resilience and cultural affirmation.

We look forward to your participation!