Damir Imamovic
Trebevic, 2017
If you come to Bosnia and Herzegovina and are interested in music, there’s no way around Sevdah. And no way around Damir Imamovic, who brought this traditional genre of music to modern success. The Sarajevo-based artist comes from a family of Sevdah singers, but has taken his own progressive approach on this centuries-old tradition. Its topics often circle around love, longing and melancholy (that’s why it’s also called the Bosnian Blues). Damir Imamovic draws from this long tradition and interprets classic Sevdalinkas on the one hand. On the other hand he is also sensitive for change and writes songs about prevalent topics like migration that has not only affected people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but still concerns so many people all over the world. “When I sing about that”, Damir says, “even though people do not understand Bosnian language, they understand the emotion behind it.” With the sun setting over Sarajevo the master of Sevdah gives an impressive example what this emotion can feel like.
- Camera
- Sarah Brugner
- Michael Luger
- Sound
- Michael Luger
- Post production
- Sarah Brugner
- Artist
- Damir Imamovic
Trebevic
Trebevic is Sarajevo’s backyard mountain. On a lovely Sunday afternoon local families love to walk up – at least partially – the 1629-meter hill through the mahalas, Sarajevo’s old residential areas. A common destination is the Olympic Bobsleigh Track from the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics. You can walk on and below the crumbling concrete construction, picnic in the finish area and imagine yourself sleighing down the 1300 meter long track. On the way down – unless you take the bus – a stopover at Kod Bibana, a beautifully located traditional restaurant is a must if you want to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Sarajevo. Before the bustling city center has you back the peaceful slopes of the malhalas give an impression of life in Sarajevo in earlier days.