The Sky and Earth Know

The Sky and Earth Know

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Romani social media boasts and bleeds

Why do the Roma share everything online?
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Kali Sara: How the Romani hid their Goddess in plain sight
May 27, 2024 • Martina Mustafova and Pepi Mustafov
The Romani don’t do small talk
Jul 12, 2022 • Martina Mustafova and Pepi Mustafov
Untethered Together: The unofficial and unscripted nature of Romani marriages
Aug 22, 2023 • Martina Mustafova and Pepi Mustafov
"Be a woman": The Romani have no King. They have Queens.
Sep 18, 2023 • Martina Mustafova and Pepi Mustafov

Recent posts

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The realpolitik of forgiveness in Romani life
how much is facade and how much is soul-deep
Oct 27 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
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Since the summer of 2022, we’ve poured our hearts and souls into The Sky and Earth Know — writing, translating, and photographing Roma life from the…
Oct 26 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
An old Romani quarrel is never really old
Or how a grudge is a debt that never expires
Sep 10 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
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Why we use "Roma" and "Romani" instead of "Gypsy"

🎶 Romani Music 🎶

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Pirav mange korkoro | "I walk alone"
by Valentin Slavchev
Oct 28 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Asiba
by Mustafa Sabanović
Aug 27 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
O duśmani | "The enemy"
by Safet Ibrahimi
Dec 13, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Mig Mig | "Blink blink"
by Sofi Marinova
Dec 6, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov

The Roma Life

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Romani social media boasts and bleeds
Why do the Roma share everything online?
Nov 5 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
The realpolitik of forgiveness in Romani life
how much is facade and how much is soul-deep
Oct 27 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
An old Romani quarrel is never really old
Or how a grudge is a debt that never expires
Sep 10 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Why the Roma forgive each other the unforgivable
And is the price of peace too high?
Sep 3 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
"Tying up the money" or how cash in Romani hands appears to melt away
Have you heard how rich people, especially generationally wealthy ones, don’t carry around cash?
Feb 6 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov

Is it true?

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Do the Roma habitually slaughter each other with axes in melees?
the psychology of mass fights in Romani culture
Feb 12 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Do the Roma ruin everything they touch?
exploring the myth of the Roma leaving desolation in their wake
Nov 25, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Are the Roma misogynistic?
Exploring the stereotype of the woman-hating Romani man
Jul 15, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Are the Romani compulsive liars?
Let's explore what "sounds" true.
Nov 13, 2023 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
What you’re (not) being told about Wanda Maximoff
How far did ‘WandaVision’ explore her Romani identity?
Oct 31, 2023 • 
Martina Mustafova

Culture & Traditions

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Romani culture takes the spotlight at the French Institute
A true cultural event amid political amnesia in Sofia, Bulgaria
Jun 9 • 
Martina Mustafova
Why Romani engagement ceremonies look like weddings
But are actually not.
Feb 19 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Water and hard work: The Romani take on the First Footing tradition
how the Roma welcome the New Year with both optimism and clarity
Jan 20 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Fusion with the drums: A glimpse into the Romani soul
the dance custom that has both strict rules and no rules at all
Dec 4, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Abduction, dowries, or love: On marriage in Romani culture
and the human reality behind the myth
Nov 18, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov

Past & Present

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Discarded balloons: A few words about Romani joy
The social housing buildings in Zaharna Fabrika, Sofia, are protected as cultural heritage.
Jul 7 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
In the ashes, the Romani heart keeps beating
we'll take you on a short walk among the rubble of our demolished quarter
May 2 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
"They were born here and died here."
Do the Roma have a right to live where they've always lived?
Mar 20 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Bugattis in the garage, Roma slaves in the streets: The empire of Rumen Gaytanski "The Wolf"
or why the Romani resort to wrapping themselves in plastic bags while their boss collects luxury cars
Sep 24, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
 and 
Pepi Mustafov
Why have the Romani been scapegoated for a thousand years?
The “Gypsies” versus “civilized society”
Sep 9, 2024 • 
Martina Mustafova
© 2025 Martina Mustafova and Pepi Mustafov
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