IV. ATHE SAM! – WE ARE HERE!

The 2010 Athe Sam Festival offers a wider range of programmes than ever before.

This year a world famous star will perform at the Festival: the founder and bandleader of the legendary Gypsy Kings, and co-author of such hits as "Bamboleo", "Djobi, Djobi" and "Ben Ben Maria". Djeloul Bouchikhi, a.k.a. Chico, who is also UNESCO's Special Envoy for Peace, will give a concert in Hungary with his band, Chico & The Gypsies (ES/ Rumba Catalana), for the first time in 14 years.

Similarly to previous Festivals, we will present a special production at this year's opening as well: the rock opera Roma Legend, which was written and directed by Gusztáv Varga, will be performed by the band Kalyi Jag.

An exciting novelty among the Festival's literary events is the first Athe S(l)am. We gave a little twist to the concept of 'poetry slam', which normally involves an author choosing and reciting a piece with a socially sensitive topic. On this occasion the poets-performers will be students from all over the country, and the audience will have the chance to hear their texts written around the topics "If I were not Roma" or "If I were Roma".

In addition to the music and cultural events, we will organise other programmes as well, including for instance the roundtable discussion of "clairvoyant" politicians who will discuss Roma policy in the next four years. In the framework of the thematic programmes, we will address Roma integration through issues related to employment (presentation of model projects), and initiatives in education (Roma issues in education - classroom demo on prejudices and roundtable on Roma educational policy). We continue to seek to facilitate dialogue among young intellectuals of various Roma groups through the Meeting programme.

We have contacted other all arts festivals that deal with Roma culture (too) both in Hungary and abroad. Close cooperation has been established with the Festival in Bánk. By jointly organising workshops, concerts, literary events, movie screenings and exhibitions, we seek to promote continuity in thinking about tolerance, diversity and human dignity.

However, all this is only few of the many programmes... In addition to those highlighted above, a host of other events will be organised, including many excellent concerts, dance houses, movie screenings, theatre performances and exhibitions, as well as a fair that will surely please the eyes, the ears and the mouth.

We are here - you should be here, too!