Art House of Sevdah

Sevdalinka – a traditional Bosnian-Herzegovinian folk song, has defied time for centuries and, through some strange symbiosis, lives on with generations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is a song of the urban Bosnian space. Over time, it also penetrated into Bosnian villages, but it still put down its deepest roots in cities, i.e., where it originated.
It is officially inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, thereby recognized as a global symbol of cultural heritage.

Exhibition of Art House of Sevdah

The Art House contains a library and bookstore featuring archival materials and publications that offer a historical overview of the development of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian sevdalinka. The exhibits range from awards, musical instruments, bilingual descriptions of each exhibit, authors, performers, and musicians, to music catalogs, posters, archives, and more. To complement these offerings, there is also the Sevdah kahva – a space where visitors can sit and enjoy authentic Bosnian coffee.

Feel the sevdah:

Performers

The most prominent sevdalinka vocal performers in the 20th century are: Zaim Imamović, Himzo Polovina, Safet Isović, Zehra Deović, Nedžad Salković, Meho Puzić, Nada Mamula, Beba Selimović, Zekerijah Đezić, Emina Zečaj, Nedeljko Bilkić
UNESCO

The proposal to include Sevdalinka on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list was created in January 2017, and Sevdalinka was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 4, 2024, thus recognized as a global symbol of cultural heritage. This marks a milestone in the preservation and promotion of this traditional urban song, known for its emotional lyrics and melodies.
Safvet-beg Bašagić

"A nation can experience political, social, and economic fiasco in its homeland. Everything is temporary, everything can change overnight. But there is something that is not fleeting, which neither mere chance nor the fiercest enemy can destroy, and those are the works of art we call literature. This triumph remains for ages, for it is a legacy for future generations and times"
Umihana Čuvidina

The first Bosnian Muslim poetess was Umihana Čuvidina. She was born at the end of the 18th century in Hrid into the Čuvida family, which was involved in the aščija (cook) and bostandžija (greengrocer) trades. Umihana began writing poetry after the tragic death of her fiancé.
The painful fate that befell her meant that Umihana never emotionally recovered. Namely, among the standard-bearers of the Bosnian army was Umihana's fiancé, Mujo Čamdži-barjaktar, who was from Bistrik.