El Monumental Complex of the Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera It will host the event on November 18 and 19, 2025. International Congress '600 Years of Gypsy Heritage and Culture'A key event in the commemoration of the six hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Roma people in Spain. The event is organized by the National Association of Gypsy Presence and Gypsy Secretariat Foundation, with the collaboration of the Jerez City Council and the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, ERIAC, the European Commission, Amazon Music and the Kamira Federation.
During two intense days, the Congress will address Six centuries of history, memory, challenges and contributions of the Roma people in SpainThe event will feature roundtables, conferences, guided tours, and artistic performances. It will bring together prominent figures from the institutional, cultural, and social spheres and aims to highlight the significant contribution of the Roma people to the history and diversity of the Spanish nation.
The first day, dedicated to legacy and contemporary challenges, will begin with an opening conference and a round table discussion on achievements and challenges of the Roma peopleIn the afternoon, there will be a discussion on urban heritage and Jerez's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2031, a presentation of the European Routes of Gypsy Cultural Heritage, and a guided tour of the Santiago neighborhood. The day will culminate with a concert by Vicente Soto 'Deafness' (National Award of Cante 2023).
The second day will focus on the Romani language, creativity and talent among Roma women, and literature. It includes the presentation of key publications, a traditional Roma lunch, and the celebration of International Romani Day. Flamenco The program will include debate, testimonies, and a reading of a manifesto. It will conclude with a performance. 50 Years of Persecution, a tribute to the work of The Lebrijano y big felix, which will be performed at the Cajasol Foundation Auditorium (Jerez).
All congress activities are free of charge until capacity is reached, except for the tribute concert. 50 Years of Persecutionwhich will be by invitation only.
This congress is part of the activities commemorating the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Roma people in Spain, and aims to project a renewed perspective on the richness, diversity and contributions of Roma culture in Spain and Europe, strengthening recognition, equality and dialogue through culture, history and art.
Congress program
Day 1 – Tuesday, November 18
Tomorrow -
12:00 – 12:30 “Gypsy People: 600 Years of History and Culture”
Inaugural act
They intervene:
María José García-Pelayo, Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera
Beatriz Carrillo (Ministry of Equality)
Fabián Daniel Sánchez (National Association of Gypsy Presence)
Antonio Soto (Gypsy Secretariat Foundation)
Ismael Cortés (ERIAC – European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture)
12:30 – 13:00 Opening Conference
“Six centuries of Gypsy history and culture in Spain"
Joaquín López-Bustamante (journalist, program director) Gypsies(from RNE)
13:00 – 14:00 Round table: After 600 years, achievements and challenges
Review of achievements and upcoming commitments. Moderator: Gonzalo Montaño. Participants: Ismael Cortés (ERIAC, University of Heidelberg), Beatriz Carrillo (Ministry of Equality), Juan Reyes (Fundación Secretariado Gitano), Eugenio Salazar (Unión Romaní Madrid, State Council of the Roma People), representative of the Ministry of Culture
Afternoon -
16:15 – 16:45
16:45 – 17:45
“Urban heritage and Gypsy culture”
Jerez 2031 candidacy European Capital of Culture
Gypsy cultural heritage as an engine for tourism and regional and local development
Presentation of the “European Routes of Gypsy Cultural Heritage”
Participants include representatives from Presencia Gitana, Jerez City Council, Lebrija City Council, Eladio Fernández-Galiano (Council of Europe), María José Gómez (Expert in cultural tourism), and Ramón Soto (Association of Nueva and Cantarería Streets).
Activity funded by the Ministry of Culture
18:00 – 19:00 20:00 – 21:30 Guided tour
“Santiago neighborhood: Gypsy memory and heritage in Jerez”
Performance: Vicente Soto's "Deafness" concert. National Award for Cante 2023. Accompanied by Vicente Santiago (Guitar), Ángel Peña and Israel Peña (Art and compass)
Day 2 – Wednesday, November 19
Tomorrow -
12:00 – 13:00 13:00 – 14:00 14:00 – 16:00 Romani language, richness in words
Round table: Romani/Gypsy language and literature
Presentation of the “Romani Language Manual”. Editorial Presencia Gitana. Speakers: Carlos Muñoz Nieto (Romani Language Expert) and Fabián Daniel Sánchez (Presencia Gitana)
Presentation of the book 600 years of history and culture in SpainInternational University of Valencia / Gypsy Secretariat Foundation. Participants: Mayte Suárez (FSG), Arnau Vilaró (UIV), Ismael Cortés (co-author of the book)
Round table: Roma women, diversity, talent and Romani creativity
Panel discussion with leading Roma women. Participants include Carmen Santiago and Tere. Peña and Felipa Medrano. Book presentation Gypsy women. Talent, creativity and Romani diversity in Spain, of the Kamira Federation
Gypsy lunch with balichó, rendundes, manró and mollate from Jerez (pork, chickpeas, bread and sherry wine) offered by Matipén Catering
Afternoon -
International Day Celebration Flamenco
16:00 – 17:30 17:30 – 18:30 18:30 – 19:00 Round table: Flamencosound heritage
Participants: José Luis Lara (promoter), Domingo González (Mont de Marsan Festival), María del Mar Moreno (flamenco dancer), Juan Garrido (journalist), Manuel Naranjo (Chair of FlamencoJerez school), Vicente Soto Sordera (flamenco singer)
Andalusian Gypsy Day: Gypsy Testimonies
Uncle Antonio Soto and other Jerez icons
Reading of cultural manifesto
Closing institutional remarks
20:00 – 22:00
Closing performance at the Cajasol Foundation Auditorium (Jerez)
Show: 50 Years of Persecution
Tribute to the work of The man from Lebrija and Felix Grande on its 50th anniversary
