Beyond Borders: On the Transgressive Potential of Romani Literature(s)

The article explores the evolving field of Romani literatures within a broader sociopolitical and aesthetic context, focusing particularly on its transgressive, boundary-crossing potential. It situates Romani literature within the broader framework of migration literature. While Roma mobilities have long been studied from sociological and anthropological perspectives, their literary implications remain underexplored. The article challenges traditional diaspora concepts, noting the problematic framing of Roma as “eternal nomads.” Such narratives often serve to further marginalize Roma rather than to understand their lived experiences. Romani and Sinti communities, estimated at around eight million across Europe, do not represent a homogeneous group but a diasporic mosaic marked by linguistic, cultural, and geographic diversity. This heterogeneity is mirrored in their literary expressions. Though Romani written literature is a relatively recent phenomenon – emerging in the past century – it is a growing and increasingly significant field.