Institute For Cultural Partnerships -2006 Apprenticeships

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Sevdalinka (Bosnian Love Ballads)

Artists:

Mensura Berberovic (Master Artist)
Selma Sinanovic (Apprentice)

Description of the Art Form

The music I sing is Bosnian Sevdalinka. Sevdalinka is a kind of love ballad that originates in Bosnia. Other Balkan countries have adopted the Sevdalinka. The Sevdalinka is sung by Catholics, Muslims, and Protestants. The songs come from a long time ago when young men courted young women. They could not date, they could not touch, they could not even meet in public. The young man late at night would sing Sevdalinka under the window of his sweetheart. Bosnians still sing Sevdalinka as a way of remembering the past. Young men don’t sing under young women’s windows anymore but today you cannot have a wedding or any sort of celebration without singing Sevdalinka. Even when the government hosts special guests they must include a concert with Sevdalinka. Bosnian singing contests use Sevdalinka and they are featured on Bosnian television.

Mensura Berberovic

Place of Birth: Vlasenica, Bosnia
Current Place of Residence: Erie, PA

Artist Statement

The music I sing is Sevdalinka, Bosnian love ballads. This is the music of my mother and grandmother and their mothers before them. I want to keep this art form alive so my own children and grandchildren can learn and the Bosnian community in Erie can learn about the old ways and about Bosnian culture. I learned this art form from my mother, grandmother and my community. I grew up singing. I was too young to remember when I started. I used to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning to my mother’s singing. When I became a young mother I never used the radio or tape in the car, instead I would sing to them and they learned from me. I am happy to be in America and I am grateful my grandchildren can make a good life here. But I miss my home. When I mourn, instead of crying, I sing Sevdalinka.

I communicate with my family using Sevdalinka. I sent videotapes of my singing to my family in Bosnia. They know exactly what I mean. They send recordings of Sevdalinka as a reply. Even my children do this! Because singing was a part of our family, it comes naturally to them. My daughter lives in Erie but my son lives in Morocco. When they use the telephone they sing to each other Sevdalinka and then they hang up! They do not need to speak, just to sing. They choose the songs that have now become important to them.

Accomplishments/milestones

1966 B.A., Nursing

As a high school student, Mensura Berberovic sang with the cultural arts association of Sarajevo, a selective group of singers and dancers. Recently, she received Arts Grant to teach Bosnian songs to Bosnian children in Erie.

2005, Current student, Selma Simamovic, sang at events including the Bosnian National Congress and the First Bosnian Folk Festival in America.
2005, Organized the First Annual Bosnian Folkloric Festival in North America, the largest cultural event of Bosnians outside of Bosnia, attended by 600 people.
2002-2004, Organized the judging of annual Bosnian traditional singing contest in Erie.
2004, Taught first American student a Sevdalinka and sang with her for a commemoration of World Refugee Day in June.
2004, Became a U.S. citizen in May.
1995, Fled genocide and came to the U.S. as a refugee.

Selma Sinanovic

Place of Birth: Tesanj, Bosnia
Current Place of Residence: Erie, PA

Artist Statement

In 2003 we had a Bosnian School on Saturdays. First we learned how to read and write Bosnian language. Then we learned Bosnian songs. I fell in love with Bosnian music! I like the children’s songs but I really really love the old Sevdalinka songs. I don’t remember very much about living in Bosnia. I want to be connected to Bosnia. I also love to sing. I want to learn more Sevdalinka and more Bosnian children’s songs. I want to understand more Bosnian language. I want to sing a Bosnian song and talk about Bosnia for my school.