Today is the anniversary of that evening in 1944, when over 6000 Roma and Sinti stood up to the Nazi SS in Auschwitz-Birkenau and delayed the liquidation of the ‘Gypsy camp’ (zigeunlager) by fighting off the soldiers sent to take them to the gas chambers. 

The concentration camp prisoners had received a tip off and so mobilized and united together, making crude weapons from whatever they could.  In fact Roma often  resisted the Nazis by  fighting back in whatever small ways they could, sometimes by singing and many gave their lives believing it was better to die free than live as slaves to the Nazi regime . This should make us proud and give us hope and those are the sentiments that this anniversary will bring forth. Sorrow, pride and resistance in the face of adversity, and hope for a better future.

Annually there is a very moving service organised by The Gypsy Council in Hyde park to remember the night of August 2^nd 1944, when the Nazi SS returned to the zigeunlager and succeeded in murdering the remaining 3,000 inhabitants of Auschwitz-Birkenau, but this is not official, nor is it attended or acknowledged by any Government representatives.

Link: https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/features/may-16th-1944-day-sinti-romani-and-roma-resistance

On May 12, at the Sports Center Arena in Skopje, the Manifestation was held for the 25th time

"Golden Beetle Mara of popularity 2022"

The event started at 8 pm, just in time, and lasted 4 hours and 40 minutes. Long but worthwhile to endure to the end.

The motto of this year's jubilee edition was "Let's live" with all its modifications from "Let's live a little" to "Life after life" and "Life during life", which Golden Beetle reminded of the popularity of this spring term reminded of the joy of living.

Musicians, athletes, actors and other public figures participated in a recognizable atmosphere as in previous editions. And this time it was interesting and cheerful. The leading part was driven by Sasko Kocev by default, with several years ago reinforced with Atanas and Tino.

But this year passed in the sign of the prefix "Roma" because in the timing of part of the performance among the attendees was the happiest at the performance of the Orchestra of Jumbo Agushev and the virtuoso Ferus Mustafov.

The crowning achievement was the award for lifetime achievement of Vaska Jankovska, who performed her legendary "Herdelezi" in front of the audience.

Well done to Jumbo, Ferus and most of all to Vaska Jankovska, the pride of the Roma!