Sani Rifati is a human rights activist and the President of Voice of Roma.[1]

A native Roma himself, he was born in Pristina, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, lived and worked in California, United States.[1] He currently resides in Berlin, Germany.[2]

Rifati began dancing as a youth in Pristina and was a part of the 'Kheljen Romalen!' Folklore Dance Ensemble.[1][2] During the 1980s, he was a drummer for a professional band.[2] He has worked as Romani dance instructor and choreographer.[1] Since 2012 he has worked as a Roma-dance teacher at the refugee dance group Heimatsterne of the Arbeitsgruppe Flucht+Menschenrechte in Berlin.

Rifati is a cousin of the Macedonian Gypsy vocalist and dancer Esma Redzhepova as well as being her tour manager.[3] He has also managed Ivo Papasov, Yuri Yunakov, and Kal.[2]

He appeared on the History Channels programme Curse on the Gypsies.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sani Rifati – Bio". 14 February 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sani Rifati". romaarchive.eu.
  3. ^ Pareles, Jon (12 December 2016). "Esma Redzepova Dies at 73; Sang of Her Roma Heritage to Generations". The New York Times.
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