MANOLITO STEINBACH
BETWEEN THE
NOTES OF LIFE
Photo: Hinrich Wulff
My project:
Between the notes of life
Against racism and antigypsyism
My name is Manolito Steinbach. I am a musician and represent the second and third generation of Auschwitz victims. I was born in 1971 in Berlin-Wedding. I grew up there and went to school there. I experienced very early on what racism and antiziganism mean. I was teased and bullied by my classmates because I am a member of the Sinti communitiy.
I grew up with my grandmother and learned from her at an early age what happened to us Sinti during the Second World War under National Socialism. It is very important to me to tell others about it. Because what happened then could happen again. Racism and antigypsyism are still in many people's minds. It is important that people speak openly about these topics in order to raise awareness and combat discrimination. I do this, for example, in my "readings with music" with the Romani Weiss Swingtett.
WORKING FOR TOLERANCE - AGAINST RACISM AND ANTIGYPSY - HERE AT A READING AT THE GERMAN MUSLIM CENTER EV IN BERLIN 2024
WITH THE ROMANI WEISS SWINGTETT
My project "Between the Notes of Life - Against Antigypsism and Racism" is supported by donations via the portal betterplace.org .
I thank you very much for that!
If you would like to support the project, please donate here:
In March 2022, the documentary "The Long Journey of the Sinti and Roma" was released on Hessischer Rundfunk, with a small contribution from me. Click on the picture to go to YouTube and watch the film directly.
“If you have the swing in you, you can no longer march in step.”
HEINZ JACOB "COCO" SCHUMANN
German jazz musician
My music
Music is part of our culture, which is why I came into contact with music at an early age. Since many of my relatives are musicians, I learned to play the guitar at an early age, but I was self-taught. My family also includes a music legend: the world-famous German Sinti guitarist Häns'che Weiss, who unfortunately died young. One of my role models (and many Sinti musicians) is Django Reinhardt, the forefather of Sinti swing and European jazz.
I play in various bands - including "Chapeau Manouche" and "Romani Weiss Swingtett" - with musicians who are not Sinti, who respect me as a Sinto, where there is no antizgypsism and no discrimination. There I am respected as a human being, just as I respect them as human beings - even though they are descendants of the perpetrators.
ROMANI WEISS SWINGTETT
SINTI SWING CONNECTION
Sie können uns mit weiteren Instrumentierungen (Akkordeon, Klarinette etc.) buchen
Concert dates
03.01.25
mit dem Swingtett Manouche feat. Katja Knaus
Tabula Magica Cultur im Centrum Varel
27.01.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens" Lesung mit Musik
mit Sorin Ferat & Donny Schwarz
Princes Road Synagogue Liverpool
14.02.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens" Lesung mit Musik
mit dem Sinti Violin & Guitar Duo
VHS Glückstadt & VHS Horst e.V.
16.02.25
Konzert mit meiner Sinti Swing Connection
Zwischenraum | Aurich
24.02.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens"
Lesung mit Musik (mit Donny Schwarz)
Geschwister Scholl Schule Vechta
01.03.25
Gedenk-Kundgebung Magdeburg (Namensstele am Florapark) & Lesung mit Musik (Stadtbibliothek Florapark)
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens"
mit dem Sinti Violin & Guitar Duo
03.03.25
Konzert mit Romani Weiss und Hanna Bienert (Romani Weiss Swingtett)
Gedenkstätte Ahlem, Hannover
15.03.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens"
Ein Abend mit Gespräch, Film und Konzert über die Geschichte der Sinti und Roma und gegen Antiziganismus
mit dem Sinti Violin & Guitar Duo
Mainfeld - Raum für Kultur | Frankfurt
09.04.25
"Unku – eine Berliner Sintiza"
Ein Abend zu Erna Lauenburger
Musikalische Lesung und Gespräch
VERANSTALTUNGSINFO:
https://www.humboldtforum.org/de/programm/termin/gespraech/unku-eine-berliner-sintiza-143769/
11.04.25
Konzert mit dem Romani Weiss Swingtett
Jazzclub - Restaurant Badenscher Hof Berlin
VERANSTALTUNGSINFO:
16.05.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens"
Lesung und Konzert mit dem Sinti Violin & Guitar Duo Gast: Kussi Weiss
Wilhelm 13 | Oldenburg
VERANSTALTUNGSINFO:
https://wilhelm13.de/programm/zwischen-den-noten-des-lebens/
04.08.25
"Zwischen den Noten des Lebens"
Lesung und Konzert mit dem Sinti Violin & Guitar Duo
Bürgerzentrum Haus Unter den Linden | Herford
VERANSTALTUNGSINFO:
https://www.zellentrakt.de/veranstaltung/zwischen-den-noten-des-lebens
Readings with music
DISCUSSION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN MARCH 2024 IN THE STATE PARLIAMENT OF SAXONY-ANHALT. ON THE RIGHT JANA MÜLLER FROM THE CITY ARCHIVES DESSAU-ROßLAU EV
In order to tell my story and the story of my relatives who were placed in concentration camps and murdered under Nazi rule, I offer readings - also for young people - which I accompany with my music.
Are you interested? Then please send me a message using the contact form .
I have published my story and my concerns in a brochure. You can receive this in exchange for a donation at my readings.
Im Januar 2025 habe ich eine Lesung mit Musik in der Princes Road Synagoge in Liverpool gehalten - und bin dort im Universitätsarchiv auf Spurensuche meiner Verwandten gegangen. Hier ist ein kleiner Film dazu:
ADRIAN OESER
Filmmaker and freelance journalist
When I interviewed Manolito for my film "The Long Road of the Sinti and Roma," he told me how strongly his family's history of persecution still affects him today. I find it impressive and important that he has now written down his memories and thoughts and is passing them on to other people. An important work against forgetting and an effort to anchor the stories of Sinti and Roma in public perception.
His lyrics, combined with his music, speak to the heart and mind. Both are needed to combat racism today and to ensure that National Socialist persecution and its effects are not forgotten.
www.adrian-oeser.net | Photo: Peter Jülich
Write to me.
Do you have a question or suggestion for me? Would you like to book a concert or a reading with music? I look forward to hearing from you!