A people who sing and dance – and those who beg.

Luli and Djugi are two distinct communities of Roma living in Central Asia. Unlike their European counterparts, they are Muslims, with many having performed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The Old Persian word “Luli” translates as “a people who sing and dance”, while “Djugi” means “beggars”.

This exhibition series is a selection from a vast archive gathered over years of repeated visits to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It offers a rare insight into the lives of communities that, despite the changing world, maintain their raw authenticity and unique cultural identity.