Romani Romani may refer to: Ethnicities * Romani people, an ethnic group of Northern Indian origin, living dispersed in Europe, the Americas and Asia ** Romani genocide, under Nazi rule * Romani language, any of several Indo-Aryan languages of the Roma ...

communities in

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and some areas of

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, the ''rom baro'' () is the tribal leader. He earns his position through merit, and his decisions ‒ although considered wise ‒ do not have the automatic approval of the community. Other factors in the selection of a ''rom baro'' include knowledge of the language of the areas of planned travel and resourcefulness in emergency situations.

Etymology

The term ''baro'' is of

Indic Indic may refer to: * Indic languages (disambiguation) * Various scripts: ** Brahmic scripts, a family of scripts used to write Indian and other Asian languages ** Kharosthi (extinct) * Indian numerals * Indian religions, also known as the Dharm ...

origin, and implies not only "big", but also powerful and important. Some Canadian and American Romani groups have substituted the term ''shato'', a contraction of ''O Baro Shato'', "the bigshot".

Tribal Leaders

The ''rom baro'' are chosen by their communities; the main criteria for choosing a ''rom baro'' is their intelligence and a sense of fairness. The leaders are usually older in age, as the older a Roma is, the better knowledge of Romani law and traditions they are viewed as having. They act as advisors for the

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

of their respective tribe or company and are usually fairly wealthy. A ''rom baro'' is elected for life and the position is not inheritable. The ''rom baro'' are the head of their patriarchal groups known as ''familias'' but, their authority extends far beyond their own familias, encompassing their respective tribes or companies ( rom, kumpania). The role of the ''rom baro'' is to handle all the internal problems in their tribe or company such as disagreements in work, marriage, family relations, trials, funerals, etc., while also, dealing with gadje authorities in making sure their tribe is in good standing with the American law, arranging work, and handling outside pressures to assimilate. While the ''rom baro'' has a considerable amount of power and influence among their Roma tribe ( rom, vitsa), they are still subject to the Romani law and the

Kris (Romani court) Kris ( rom, kris) or Kris-Romani is a traditional court for conflict resolution in the culture of Vlax branch of the Romani people. The term derives from the Greek language, "κρίση" (judgment). It is a key institution for enforcing the Romani ...

. A ''rom baro'' who fails to provide for his community or breaks the Romani law will be removed from his position by the Kris. This includes getting in trouble with gadje authorities and revealing Romani secrets which will make them not only lose their position, but also be outcast from the tribe and considered impure.

Notable ''rom baro''s

* Jimmy Marks; the ''rom baro'' of the Spokane Roma until he was deposed for getting in trouble with the law and revealing the secrets of the Roma.

References

{{reflist Romani society Romani words and phrases Titles of national or ethnic leadership

Etymology

Tribal Leaders

Notable ''rom baro''s

See also

References