Bosnia and Herzegovina is an upper middle-income country. It has a developing economy that is rich in natural resources and has made significant progress in recent years. However, it still faces economic challenges such as high unemployment and a large current account deficit.
Diverse European and Turkish influences are felt in the cultural life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are considerable variations between traditional and modern and between rural and urban culture as well.
Like the surrounding Balkan countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a turbulent past marked by frequent foreign invasions and occupation. As a result, Bosnian music is now a mixture of Slavic, Turkish, Central European, Mediterranean, and other influences.
Sevdah is derived from the Turkish, denoting amorous yearning and the ecstasy of love. But its Turkish origin is adapted from the ancient Arabic word sawda, which encompasses melancholy and black bile.
Sevdalinka
Ottoman Influence
Sevdalinka is a traditional Bosnian-Herzegovinian type of urban singing. It originated during the Ottoman period and up until the beginning of the 20th century were often referred to as turčije (Turkish-style songs). The name sevdalinka is derived from the Turkish word sevdali, which means ‘ madly in love, melancholic’, which is often what the songs are about: deep unrequited love. Sevdalinke can also be about places in Bosnia, important towns or sites of historical events. Each town in Bosnia and Herzegovina has its own sevdalinke tradition. Although sevdalinke originated during Ottoman rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina not all sevdalinke are from the Ottomans. Many have a typical Slav melodic formula. Sevdalinke are usually sung to the accompaniment of the saz ( a stringed instrument of Turkish origin).
Safet Isovic
Safet Isović (8 January 1936 – 2 September 2007) was a Bosnian singer who performed the Bosnian traditional music sevdalinka. Isović was born into a Bosniak family in Bileća, located in the Herzegovina region of modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, while it was a part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia.[3] Safet was one of three children of Ahmet Isović and Ermina; his brother’s name was Fehim and his sister was Fehma. Safet’s father Ahmet was the son of Zaim Isović, whose first wife, Derviša (née Baraković), died during childbirth on 19 June 1900.
Dzejla Ramovic
Džejla Ramović (born 29 April 2002) is a Bosnian solo singer. She rose to fame as the winner of the first season of the Serbian talent show Neki Novi Klinci (Some New Kids).[1] Later in 2019 she won the thirteenth season of musical competition Zvezde Granda.[
Hor Mosus
Hor Mosus is a great group of Atrists with very beautiful vocals and they sing Muslim songs about how we need to pray God, prophets and how to unite Bosnians.
Tea Tairovic
Tea Tairović (Serbian Cyrillic: Tea Таировић; born 26 April 1996) is a Serbian singer, songwriter and dancer. Born and raised in Novi Sad, she rose to prominence as a contestant on Zvezde Granda, and has to date released three studio albums: Balkanija (2022), Balerina (2023) and Tea (2024), as well as numerous standalone singles, that gained great commercial success. Recognizable for her performances, that include belly dance and Latin dance, and covers of songs from Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Albania, Tairović was described in Serbia as “Shakira of the Balkans“.[1]
Jelena Rozga
Jelena Rozga (born 23 August 1977) is a Croatian pop, folk, and electropop singer. Born and raised in Split, Croatia, Rozga was a ballet dancer as a child. She rose to fame in 1996, when she became the lead singer of Magazin, a pop band famous in Croatia. She served as the band’s lead singer until 2006, releasing a total of five studio albums. During the ten years, the band released numerous commercially and critically successful singles including “Ginem”, “Minut’ srca tvog” and “Minus i plus” among others.