Biography
Nađa Greku is an expert in Roma rights, political advocacy, and cultural diplomacy, currently serving as Program Manager for the Western Balkans and Turkey at the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC). Nađa holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Central European University in Vienna (CEU Vienna) and a BA in Sociology from the University of Novi Sad. She also completed a one-year specialization in Romani Studies (Romology) at CEU in Budapest, graduating with distinction. In 2023, Nađa participated in a fully funded visit to Yad Vashem (Jerusalem), where she deepened her knowledge of Holocaust memorialization and the genocide of the Roma. She co-curated the ERIAC Serbia exhibition Combing Through Time: Disentangling the Hidden Histories of the Roma Genocide (2024), a powerful project that merges art and historical research to shed light on often overlooked narratives of Roma experiences during World War II.
PORAJMOS AND MEMORY: BETWEEN RECOGNITION AND OBLIVION – MEMORY POLITICS AND COLLECTIVE REMEMBRANCE/OBLIVION OF ROMA SUFFERING
Abstract: This research examines memory politics in Serbia through the lens of three former sites of suffering and memorial locations: Staro Sajmište, Topovske šupe, and Jabuka. The focus is on how these places are remembered – or erased – within the Roma community, which suffered immense losses during the Porajmos, and by those who live in or near these areas today. The research addresses spatial and urban justice, analysing how post-socialist transformations, privatization, and expansion of big businesses have shaped both the contemporary landscape of these historical sites and collective memory. Through interviews with Roma and non-Roma residents, the research explores the intersections of memory, historical narratives, anti-Roma racism, and economic interests. Relying on the post-socialist urban landscape, the study investigates how capitalism and real estate development influence the preservation or erasure of historical memory. Ultimately, this research contributes to broader discussions on memory politics, spatial justice, the sociology of everyday life, and the ways marginalized histories—particularly Roma history – are (mis)used in urban planning, public discourse, and collective remembrance. Given that these topics have so far been predominantly addressed by non-Roma researchers, this study also offers a unique perspective from the author, who is herself a Romani woman.
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