On June 27, 2025, we lost one of the greatest Roma intellectuals of the modern era — Dragoljub Acković, a prolific writer, poet, scholar of Romani studies, and tireless advocate for the dignity and rights of the Roma people. His life’s work was a beacon of resistance to silence and invisibility — a life devoted to transforming marginalization into empowerment and cultural pride.

Ackovic was a key participant in the First International Conference and Exhibition on Jasenovac held in Brooklyn, New York at Kingsborough Community College in October 1997 and organized by Professors Bernard Klein and Barry Lituchy. The Jasenovac Research Institute was founded on the last day of that conference.

Born in 1952 in Osipaonica, near Smederevo, Serbia, Acković graduated in the mid-1970s from the Faculty of Political Sciences and later from the Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Ethnology. He continued postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade and pursued doctoral research at the United Nations University for Peace.

Voice of a People

Dragoljub Acković authored hundreds of texts and over twenty books addressing the complexities, beauty, and challenges of Roma identity. His works — such as Roma Problems in Contemporary Society, Chronicles of Roma History, and Studies in Romani Culture — were not only literary and scholarly contributions but powerful instruments of advocacy and cultural awakening. He was a member of the Writers' Association of Serbia since 1997 and was active in the Roma political movement, serving as the first President of the Roma Congress Party. For decades, he was one of the foremost voices representing the Roma community in Serbia and internationally. From 2012, he served as Deputy Director of the Office for Human and Minority Rights of the Government of Serbia. For over 20 years, he was the editor of the Roma program on Radio Belgrade, ensuring that Roma language and voices were present in national media. He also founded and directed the Museum of Roma Culture in Belgrade, the independent Roma radio and television network “Khrlo e Romengo,” and helped launch numerous publications in the Romani language.

International Leadership and Legacy

Dragoljub Acković was an esteemed member of the International Commission for the Truth About Jasenovac (since 2007) and served as President of the Dr. Milan Bulajić Genocide Research Fund (since 2010). He was elected President of the World Roma Parliament on April 8, 2013, and served as Vice President of the International Romani Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2011. He represented the Roma community on global stages, participating in the World Roma Organization since its 3rd Congress, and held a seat on Serbia’s National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage. His mission was clear: To ensure Roma are not seen as a problem, but as a civilizational value. Every platform he stood on became a classroom — not just for Roma, but for broader society as well.

A Life That Was a Library

In the words of activist Milorad Popović:

“Today we did not just lose a man, we lost an entire library, a spirit of an era, and a beacon of struggle. Dragoljub knew more about Roma history than many knew about their own. His words live on. His struggle becomes our covenant. His departure is a loss that obligates us to continue, never to forget who we are, where we come from, and where we must go.”

Dragoljub Acković was more than a scholar. He was an institution — a bridge between centuries of struggle and a future of emancipation. He carried the hopes of a people in every speech, every line of poetry, every book, and every broadcast. And when others were silent, he raised his voice. May he be remembered as he lived: boldly, wisely, and with unwavering dedication.