Bronisława Wajs (17 August 1908, Lublin – 8 February 1987, Inowrocław), commonly known by her Romani name Papusza (meaning Doll), was a Polish-Romani classic poet and singer.

Although the poem made Papusza known for the first time among the Polish audience, the interview and, above all, the Romani-Polish minidictionary attached to it, caused a negative turn in the poet's life, as she was accused of revealing the secrets of her native culture to the gadjos.

Accusations of Papusza and Ficowski as supporters, even unintentional of the forced settlement of Roma are even now not uncommon, although the law imposing a ban on wandering was not introduced until 1964.

Papusza herself settled in the western Polish city of Gorzów Wielkopolski, spending most of the rest of her life in a house on Kosynierów Gdyńskich street which today bears a plaque dedicated to her.

[2] The Roma community soon began to regard Papusza as a traitor, threatening her and calling her names, either for revealing the details of the Romani language, culture, customs and common law, for her contacts with gadjos, or for her alleged role in the anti-nomadic moves of the government.

Her appeals fell on deaf ears and the Baro Shero (Big head, an elder in the Roma community) declared her "unclean".

Ficowski remained her major admirer and eulogist, popularising her legacy and unique place in Polish and Romani culture throughout his later life.