Czech Museum of Romani Culture unveils bust of Jozef Kmeťo, Romani journalist who died one year ago

A concrete bust of the late Romani journalist Jozef Kmeťo has been unveiled at the Museum of Romani Culture. He passed away last year from COVID-19 and just before his death broadcast a video warning others against the virus and calling on them to follow counter-pandemic measures. 

Until his very last moments of life, Mr Kmeťo was an integral component of Romani-Slovak Internet journalism, just as he had been many years before. The bust was gifted to the museum by the Czechoslovak Romani Union.   

Kmeťo was especially known as a blogger for the Slovak newspaper SME and its online server, where he published more than 140 pieces. He published a similar number on the Czech news server iDNES.cz.

He wrote about burning subject matter that was frequently unpleasant: Discrimination, racism, violence. He was not afraid to criticize his fellow Roma and also drew attention to iniquities within the Romani community itself. 

His voice could also be heard through Redakcia R1, a Romani radio station of which he was the founder and operator. "Through what was often his own unique conception of journalism, Kmeťo influenced Romani people across the generations, according to his example many began establishing their own Internet radio stations and writing their own pieces, and we should never forget him for that reason alone," said Karel Karika, chair of the Czechoslovak Romani Union.