Pentecostal Faith and Identity in Contemporary Romania

Margaret Beissinger is a Research Scholar and Lecturer in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Princeton University. Her research centres on how the post-communist period has shaped the lives of traditional Romani musicians in southern Romania and the genres that they perform, including the pan-Balkan “Oriental” song-dance genre manele.

In her presentation she will explore a trend among some Romani professional traditional musicians (lăutari, sg. lăutar) to adopt the Pentecostal faith, a transformation that radically alters their lives.  As Romani musicians embrace their new religious identity, they are apparently expected to reject their secular profession—music-making.  Dr Beissinger will discuss why Romani musicians are converting to Pentecostalism in the post-communist period in Romania, how they are adapting to a reshuffling of their professional priorities, and how they are managing to support their families without their former incomes.