August 2025
Maribor

In August, as part of the Roma Soul Food project, we conducted ten in-depth interviews with representatives of the Roma community in Slovenia.

The main topic of the discussions was Roma culture, with a particular focus on culinary heritage and its importance for everyday life and the preservation of the identity of the Roma community. The interlocutors shared personal experiences, memories and stories that testify to the rich tradition of Roma cuisine, its unifying effect and role in the intergenerational transfer of knowledge.

The Roma Soul Food project focuses on researching and documenting the gastronomic heritage of the Roma in Slovenia, Greece and Serbia. In the Roma community, cuisine is much more than just food preparation – it is a way of connecting people, expressing cultural diversity and establishing dialogue with the majority society. Through research activities, we want to show that food carries messages about history, migration and cultural exchange, and is at the same time a powerful tool for strengthening intercultural understanding.

We plan to conduct a total of 30 interviews, conducted in Slovenia, Greece and Serbia. These conversations will be an important building block of a collection of oral testimonies, which will soon be publicly available in digital form. We want to provide insight into diverse culinary practices and customs and contribute to a broader understanding of the Roma community, its everyday life and cultural expression. The interviews will soon be published on the project website and will serve as a resource for researchers, educators, as well as the general public.

Event announcements:

 

  • September 6, 2025 – Pušča
    EPEKA, together with the Loli Luludi association, is preparing to participate in the traditional 8th goulash festival on the platform of the Pušča Local Community. There, we will present Roma goulash and the Roma Soul Food project, which will be an excellent opportunity for intergenerational networking and cultural exchange with good food, music and a pleasant atmosphere.
  • September 6, 2025 – Ljubljana, Green Fair
    In cooperation with the Romanco–Rman Roma Herbal Society and the Loli Luludi association, the Green Fair in Ljubljana will present Roma culinary heritage. The event will combine traditional Roma dishes, herbalism and personal stories, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and intercultural dialogue. In addition, the Green Fair will also take place on October 4, 2025 in Maribor, which will be a new opportunity to present the project to a wider audience.

The Roma Soul Food project is not just a project about food, but a story about people, their memories, traditions and creativity. With it, we build bridges between generations, cultures and countries and contribute to the preservation and development of European cultural diversity. In anticipation of the public publication of all 30 interviews, we invite you to follow us on the project website and jjjoin our events in September and October.

The project is supported by the European Union, the City of Maribor, the Slovenian Youth Office and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.