The mediatory role of music and dance in Romani communities of roman, Dom and Lom/Poşa in Türkiye: A post-humanist and agential realism perspective

This study explores the mediatory roles of music and dance within the Roman, Dom, and Lom/Poşa communities in Turkiye through a post-humanist and agential realism framework, drawing on Karen Barad’s theories. These cultural practices are examined as dynamic material-discursive phenomena that entangle human and non-human agencies (such as instruments, performance spaces, and socio-political contexts) to co-constitute identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. Based on extensive fieldwork in the Thracian region, Istanbul, and ongoing projects across western, southeastern, and northeastern Turkiye, the research highlights how these communities’ music and dance serve as vibrant intra-actions that negotiate marginalization, foster intercultural exchange, and reconfigure socio-economic networks. By emphasizing the agency of sound, movement, and material elements, this paper reimagines Romani cultural expressions as living processes that challenge stereotypes, affirm communal bonds, and contribute to the evolution of music in Turkiye within local and global contexts.