Every Friday, folk musician Enes Salman performs the Sevdalinka, an ancient form of love song from Bosnia and Herzegovina that this month was included in UNESCO's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Sevdalinka, often referred to as the Balkan Blues, is a melancholic urban love song dating back to the 16th century. It is a mix of South Slavic oral poetry and the music of the Ottoman Empire.
Salman is one of a few musicians who are keeping the old tradition alive.
"I have been playing and singing Sevdalinka since I was 14," Salman said before a recent performance.
Sevdalinka, often performed a capella or accompanied by traditional instruments like a lute, has been carried from generation to generation through performances at family gatherings.
In recent years, novel interpretations of Sevdalinka by a few younger musicians have brought it to global audiences.
One of them is Damir Imamovic, whose father and grandfather were famous Sevdalinka bards. Imamovic won awards in 2020/2021 for the European best album by world music magazines Songlines and Transglobal.
Imamovic promotes Sevdalinka internationally through his SevdahLab project, which drummed up support for the song's inclusion on the UNESCO's World Heritage list.
"I realised how little the public knows about the Sevdalinka genre and wanted to reveal the story behind that music," he said.
Zanin Berbic, 28, an ethno-musicologist who plays saz, a long-necked lute used in Ottoman classical music, says that Sevdalinka tells the story of Bosnia's history.
"Most of my days I spend either singing or playing Sevdalinka songs or reading or talking about them," said Berbic, who works as a custodian in the music department of Bosnia's Regional Museum in Sarajevo.
"Sevdalinka is my life."
Revitalizing interest in sevdalinka
Sevdalinka, the cherished traditional folk music of Bosnia and Herzegovina, captures the heart with its emotional depth, poetic lyrics, and melodic beauty. This unique genre, rooted in a rich tapestry of Ottoman, Slavic, and local influences, weaves tales of love, longing, and nostalgia that resonate deeply with its listeners.
While sevdalinka remains appreciated by many, its popularity among the younger generation is becoming increasingly inconsistent. Some young people are embracing the genre, blending it with modern musical styles to create innovative sounds, yet others gravitate towards global music trends, threatening the tradition's viability.
Several factors contribute to this challenge. Cultural globalization has exposed youth to a wide array of musical genres, often shifting their preferences away from traditional forms. Additionally, urbanization and modern lifestyles have diminished the venues—such as family gatherings and community events—where sevdalinka is typically performed. Financial constraints and limited resources also pose significant obstacles to preservation efforts. Furthermore, as the younger generations focus more on contemporary issues and entertainment, traditional practices like sevdalinka risk losing their relevance.
In response to these challenges, initiatives such as cultural festivals, educational programs, and collaborations with modern artists are being undertaken to revitalize interest in sevdalinka. These efforts aim not only to preserve this musical heritage but also to ensure that the beloved tradition continues to resonate with young Bosnians for generations to come. —Reuters
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