 Bosha gypsies, 19th century | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Armenia, Georgia and Turkey | |
| Languages | |
| Lomavren, Armenian, Georgian, Turkish | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Romani, Doms, Domba, Ghorbati; other Indo-Aryans |
The Lom people (Turkish: Lomlar), also known by non-Loms as BoshaorPosha (Turkish: Poşa; Armenian: Բոշա; Georgian: ბოშა, romanized: bosha; Russian: Боша) or as Armenian Romani (Russian: армянские цыгане; Armenian: հայ գնչուներ) or Caucasian Romani[1] (Russian: кавказские цыгане), are an ethnic group originating from the Indian subcontinent.[2] Their Lomavren language is a mixed language, combining an Indo-Aryan substrate with Armenian.
| Lom/Bosha in Soviet Transcaucasia | |||
| Year | Armenia | Georgia | Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926[3] |
2
|
333
|
333
|
| 1939[4] |
7
|
727
|
400
|
| 1959[5] |
18
|
1,024
|
577
|
| 1970[6] |
12
|
1,224
|
843
|
| 1979[7] |
59
|
1,223
|
121
|
| 1989[8] |
48
|
1,744
|
145
|
It is difficult to determine the exact number of Bosha people that exist, due to the dispersed and often mostly-assimilated nature of the group. Estimates suggest only a few thousand of the people can be found across Armenia and Georgia, while the Armenian Government's census reports only 50 living in the former.[9]
Concentrations of Bosha can be found in Yerevan and Gyumri in Armenia. Some of the Bosha in Armenia have adopted the Armenian language and assimilated with the larger Armenian population.[10]
In Georgia they live in such cities as Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.[2] They are noted for such occupations as sievemakers.
In Turkey the Lomlar or Poshalar adopted Islam at the 19th century and assimilated Turkish culture.[11] They mostly live in Artvin, Rize, Ardahan and Kars and identify themselves as Meshketian Turks, hiding their Lom origins, while taking Armenian words from their contact with the Hemshin.[12]
Media related to Lom people at Wikimedia Commons
