Sali Ibrahim: We the children are the people of the Earth. The Life

On the eve of April 8, the International Roma Day, at the Sofia City Library there was a concert and presentation of a new book, “Romani Mythology”. The book is written in an ancient language called Romani and is not translated in Bulgarian yet. The Romani edition of the book was financed by the Next Page Foundation and published by Elite Community Center for Roma Culture, Sofia.

The credit for collecting the scattered unpublished folklore treasure of one of the oldest peoples of the world goes to Mrs. Sali Ibrahim. She is chief expert at the Cultural Events and Programs Department of Sofia Municipality. Deputy at the World Roma Parliament. A poetess, who has published the books of poetry Cosmic Love, Bracelet for Eva, The Crown of Existence. For her book Wanderer in Cosmos, published in Spanish, in 1994 she won the contest Mystic Poetry, Madrid, and for Gypsy Visions (published in Italian and Romani) she was awarded first prize for poetry granted by the President of the Republic of Italy (2002).

“Romani Mythology” was presented at Sofia City Library together with Sali Ibrahim's new book of verses, Sand Scattered by the Wind, No 1 in the Almanac of Roma Culture.

You said “Romani Mythology” is a unique book Bulgaria could be proud with. Why?
Many books have been written in the Roma language, but “Romani Mitologiya” is the first of its kind. And I hope it will be well received by the readers.

Apparently, it is very difficult to publish such a work, summarizing the myths and legends of the gypsies.

It is. But not in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a poetic land above all, although it is still cloudy. The Romani Mitologiya seems to have been preserved here, in this “egg membrane”, figuratively speaking. Nobody expected this book to come out from Bulgaria, so I am very happy about it.

You refer to cosmic forces, which seem to prompt you…
I think about it a lot. Perhaps this gives me strength to write. Because indeed sometimes I am myself enlightened with the fact that there are messages to humanity… there has always been and there will always be.

And to yourself, too?
I do not look much for myself, but I think post-mythological time has come. However, now new ideas spring up. That there has to be a sequel.

You have a book of poetry called Wanderer in Cosmos. Where did you wander?
When I participated with it in the Madrid contest, I received incredible letters and Bulgaria was in the list of the awarded. There were authors from all over the world, but poets from only ten countries were distinguished. The name of Bulgaria was in the top ten with this book of poetry. It is primarily about the Cosmos and the love between people, the love between men and women… I hope I will be able to publish it in Bulgaria soon.

The Cosmos is doubtlessly present in the Roma culture. What can we find in the preserved myths and legends?
I came to the conclusion that everything is connected to the Cosmos. Especially the Roma's fate, the Roma's way of life, the Romani oracles, the Romani traditions to have more children, which is a concern for many politicians. What they don't know is that children are the guardians of the Earth. In Romani Mythology the Lord says: “As long as there are children on Earth, pure souls, pure beings, I will defend the Earth and there will be life.” Therefore, this tradition should be looked at from a different aspect. Maybe when I translate “Romani Mitologiya” in Bulgarian, we will convince politicians to love children above all. Because we the children are the people of the Earth. The Life!

One of your poems in Sand Scattered by the Wind is entitled Everything is Cosmic. Do you believe in that?
Yes. It is so.

Everything is Cosmic Dogs, guardians of the sun gateways, whom do you guard against?! Is it that there is a hell for stoney-hearted, Heartless, or paradise for sinless, warm-hearted?! Will they be welcomed there?! With forgiveness, among cosmic harmony?! Will the heavenly domain be desecrated, Will the pure altar cry out from ethereal trials, the foreseen pedestal?! Will the souls see the face of the demon, the horns? Will they hear the decibels of the wild music, the end of the cosmic finale?! Do the souls, mercilessly mutilated, Stand there before mirrors at full height Reflecting ugliness, torn by remorse, Among cameras, under decibels Of cosmic music turned to full volume?! The souls pray to be reincarnated in doves, free birds, But they see slobbery reptiles, with their slobbery mouths open… And they seem to want to set on fire the monster Together with God and the eternal hell, But, alas, everything is cosmically envisaged, Calculated to zero… Dogs. Curs. Guardians of the sun gateways – Fire and brimstone for the frail human strength… Lucky is the soul who will jump From its own tower in the pit without fear!

In 2002 Mrs. Sali Ibrahim received first prize for poetry in the Roma language and a medal from the President of the Republic of Italy