Rom baro
In Romani communities in the United States and some areas of Europe,[1] the rom baro is the tribal leader. A rom baro serves the same purpose as a big man in New Guinean tribal societies. He earns his position through merit, and his decisions ‒ although considered wise ‒ do not have the automatic approval of the community.[2] 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.[3]
Etymology
The term baro is of Indic 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".[4]
See also
- Romanipen (Romani spirit)
- Gadjo (non-Romani)
References
- ↑ Sharon Bohn Gmelch. "Groups that Don't Want In: Gypsies and Other Artisan, Trader, and Entertainer Minorities". Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 15, (1986), p. 317.
- ↑ Paul R. Magocsi. Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999. p. 644.
- ↑ The Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier, 1981. p. 650.
- ↑ Lee, Ronald (Spring 1997). "The Rom-Vlach Gypsies and the Kris-Romani", The American Journal of Comparative Law 45 (2): 345–392.
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