Becoming Visible: Proud Roma and Sinti Musicians in Italy during the Pandemic

The presence of Roma and Sinti communities of both ancient and more recent settlement in Italy is still a hot topic in the national public debate. In those territorial areas where Roma and Sinti family groups have progressively settled, relations with the majority society have often been marked by conflict and mutual distrust. In this context, a number of musicians have now embarked on a re-evaluation of their cultural identity, with an additional view towards achieving greater social recognition. This chapter collects and analyses a series of performances and pieces of music composed or edited during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting on how Italian Roma and Sinti musicians responded to the health emergency and highlighting their important role in a broader process that led many Sinti and Roma to escape invisibility day after day.