Blows from a frozen chicken and dreams of a departed mother. This year's storytelling at Khamoro was filled with laughter and fond memories.

Those who listened closely may have learned a thing or two about their own desires, worries, and joys. The evening, dedicated to the Romani tradition of vakeriben (storytelling), was hosted by members of the Paramisara Romani writers' club, whose stories touched on the theme of the Romani family. They shared experiences accompanied by both sadness and laughter. Above all, however, one could see a sense of shared experience in the eyes of those who came. They spoke of emotions and life situations that most of us have lived through. Even the musicians from the Gipsy Brothers, joined by David Kraus, eventually began sharing their own stories, and the evening flew by all too quickly. 

On this Monday evening, Kampa is full of people drawn here by the sun after a rainy day. The first notes drift from the community center, and the program is set to begin any moment. A girl at the garden entrance hands out Czech-Romani ribbons; pinning one on symbolizes support for the "I Won't Be Silent" campaign against anti-Gypsyism. Attendees pin them to their clothes and head inside to grab a drink and find a seat among the chairs that are still available. 

David Kraus heads toward the entrance, smiling as he shakes hands with each visitor. He introduces himself and welcomes them to today's program. Fearing rain, a tent was set up a short while ago, and most of the visitors are now seated underneath it, waiting for the evening to begin. The rest of the crowd stands around the fire, with friends greeting each other with waves and smiles. As soon as the bustle in the garden dies down and the visitors are seated, the moderators take the floor.  

"When I told my mom I didn't want to get married, she was quiet for a moment. Then she pulled a chicken out of the freezer. I thought it was for soup, until she swung it and hit me in the back of the head with that frozen chicken."

Laughter mixes with surprise. The storytellers take turns. The themes that make us laugh culminate in a story from David Kraus, who begins to talk about his school years and his father, who used to come to deal with his trouble.

The theme of tonight's evening is family, and each of us has more than enough to say about that. In fact, the members of the Paramisara club published their first collection of short stories on the theme of the Romani family, titled *Fameľija nadevše* (Family Above All), which was released in the autumn of 2024. Readers will even find a story in it featuring the frozen chicken incident.

The reminiscing slowly drifts into the nostalgia we feel when remembering our loved ones. They speak of dreams we have after someone close to us passes away, and of the ways we manage to keep a clear head while remembering. They talk about the thresholds between worlds, the thin lines where we are forced to take stock of our lives in various situations. 

The last rays of today's sun have given way to dusk, and the evening is slowly drawing to a close. After playing another song, the musicians pass the microphone on stage and begin sharing stories of their own experiences together. Before they return the microphone to the moderator duo, Pavlína Matiová and Vojtěch Lavička, the laughter slowly fades.

Vojtěch Lavička recalls the years of Khamoro he has already been a part of. He looks back at the organizers, all the familiar faces, and the friends in the audience. He sees family in every friend he has met on the long journey that Khamoro has already traveled. He speaks of the moments when we build a family out of the people we feel most comfortable with, and slowly says goodbye to everyone who came.

During the final song, the garden space fills with dancers. Long red skirts sway to the rhythm. People gradually rise from their chairs and join in the dance. The emotions experienced transform with the music into the smiles with which we slowly say our goodbyes. So, hopefully, we will meet again in a year at Khamoro! 

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