Songs of the East

Game Of Thrones cover main theme with Udmurt folk instruments [Azvesyam] /Игра Престолов кавер

The first review of Roma cultural achievements, Petar Otoranov at Niš, Serbia.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the first societies dealing with Roma education, culture and social issues were established in Yugoslavia. One of the main initiators of the idea of ​​interconnecting the Roma within Yugoslavia was the pioneer and writer, Slobodan Berberski. He was also the president of the First World Congress of Roma held in London in 1971, when decisions were made in the spirit of the national awakening of Roma: a common name was established for all Roma in the world, the appearance of the flag and the Roma anthem The activities of the Yugoslav delegates at the following congresses proved to be decisive for the networking of Roma communities worldwidemIn the context of the mentioned initiatives, a cultural event of great importance for the Roma in Yugoslavia, but also in the world, is emerging. “The first review of Roma cultural achievements” was held in Nis in 1974 with the efforts of a prominent Roma activist, the then president of the “Roma Association” from Niš, Saito Balić. The first festival included a literary evening, an exhibition of paintings, an exhibition of old Roma crafts, a panel discussion on Roma culture and a folklore festival. The event was attended by 19 societies with 540 performers, and it was opened with a parade of all folklore groups through the city center, while the main part of the cultural and artistic program was held on the Summer Stage in the Niš Fortress. Petar Otoranov, a photo-reporter for the newspaper “Politika”, who has immortalized the landscapes, cities, society and cultural events of Yugoslavia in his long-term work, had the opportunity to notice the festival, whose tradition is still nurtured in the culture of the Roma people.

Allegedly where Noah first settled after his ark touched land, Azerbaijan’s little known exclave of Nakhchivan is characterised by Martian landscapes and ongoing border tensions. Photographer Sitara Ibrahimova offers an intimate look at life in this contested region

Life passes quietly in Siyagut, a village in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan — a pocket of land that lies southwest of Armenia, on the Iranian and Turkish border. Characterised by its semi-arid Martian landscape, short snowy winters and long hot summers, a quick internet search will tell you that the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is the biggest exclave in the world, but reveal nothing about its culture or the lives of its people. According to local legend, this is exactly where Noah first set foot after his ark touched land. Visitors today enter Nakhichevan by plane, since the border with Armenia is firmly closed. Photographer Sitara Ibrahimova flew to Nakhchivan city from Baku where she is based. “After accidentally running into an old friend, Ata, he wanted to show me his childhood village. Allegedly, this village was bought from an agha by one unknown trader for three rubies. For this reason the name of the village means ‘three rubies’ in Persian.” Compared to its progressive capital, in Siyagut villagers make a living working the land. Over winter, when Ibrahimova was there, people grow spinach (with spinach cake a local delicacy) and seed potatoes for spring. “The inhabitants of the village spend their free time in front of the television. As I encountered staying with Ata’s relatives, they were mostly preoccupied with Indian soap operas. These Indian TV shows are the number one topic of conversation among neighbours.” Her photos feature famous Nakhichevan landmarks such as the Mausoleum of Yusif ibn Kuseyir and the 2,000-year-old Alinja Fortress that boasts comparisons to Machu Picchu. Yet it is her images of village life that are most revealing about the historically contested region.