Roma children form unlikely band
KIRKLARELİ – Anadolu Agency
Four Roma children, who have formed a band in the northwestern province of Kırklareli, make music using kitchen utensils like cans, tins, teapots and jars as instruments. The band, Roman 39, formed by four children between the ages of 4 and 10 living in the İğneada neighborhood of Kırklaerli’s Demirköy district, use these unusual instruments because of financial hardship.
Levent Ceylan, Doğukan Tosun, Recep Tosun and Altay Ceylan give concerts in various parts of the district.
The most striking member of Roman 39 is Altay Ceylan, who is 4 years old. With his instrument made of two old jars and an old teapot, he accompanies the older band members. The band’s leader, 10-year-old Levent Ceylan said one day they would play with real instruments.
“We have one dream only; to have real music instruments… We don’t have money, [so] we can’t buy them but we believe that we will become good artists one day,” says Levent.
