« Nous voulons parler. Nous voulons qu'ils nous entendent. »

Abstract

Since the structural and historical parallels between the construction of Romany people and the non-European colonized « Others » are evident, an intercultural analysis using postcolonial theory seems to be a promising approach to Roma’s literature. Kosovo Mon Amour, a play written by Jovan Nikolić and Ruždija Russo Sejdović from former Yugoslavia, both now living in Germany, will serve as an example. The play is about the role and the search for identity of Roma in the growing conflict between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. The phenomenon of deep internal colonization of the Self as Others, internalized stereotypes and prejudices, has been linked to power structures by Edward Said in Orientalism and is evident in Yashar’s desperate attempt to hide his Roma background. Whereas his brother Outcha follows strategies of mimicry, as described by Homi K. Bhabha. Trying to be « almost the same but not quite » introduces an ambivalence in the discourse that threatens the authority in power. The play offers an example of self-liberation: Souada, a little girl, is finding her own voice and is finally able to communicate. The interdependence of speaking and listening, as described by Gayatari C. Spivak in Can the Subaltern Speak? is topic of this process towards an own language and representation. Identity evolves to a concept of negotiation, being hybrid, heterogenic and always in a process. Communication becomes symbol of freedom in Kosovo Mon Amour.