De len Devla sastipe | "God, give them health"

by Sasho Jokera

This song is an example of how, in Roma culture, blessings are bestowed by singers instead of priests, in a joyful, powerful way. A famous Bulgarian Roma singer, Sasho Jokera, sings at a celebration for a Roma entrepreneur, Rafi. The song is created specifically for this occasion and, as you’ll see in the translation, is both a prayer and an affirmation, with a tinge of threat for the enemies. This song also highlights how, in Roma culture, the thing valued above everything else is the family: not only is the family mentioned twice in the relatively short lyrics, but it is also in the opening line.

After the 3-minute mark, the singer starts listing out people and things, “Rafi,” “the brothers,” “the profitable company” as a way of summoning a blessing from God for everyone and everything he lists out. Our translation ends before the 3-minute mark because we felt it works better if the focus is only on the song lyrics.