Divanhana Announces a Major Concert in Sarajevo!
Fifteen years of promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s urban traditional song, sevdalinka, to audiences around the world.
It all began on 19 December 2011, when Bosnian sevdah band Divanhana released its debut single, the traditional sevdalinka “Evo srcu mome radosti” (“Joy to My Heart”). Fifteen years later, on the very same date, the band will celebrate this major milestone with a special concert in Sarajevo, the city where its musical journey began.
The concert will take place on 19 December 2026 at the Bosnian Cultural Centre of
Sarajevo Canton, beginning at 8:00 PM.
Divanhana’s journey has been marked by years of creative work, travel, artistic encounters, and a steadfast commitment to preserving and presenting sevdalinka in a contemporary context. More than 500 concerts across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the wider region, and around the world, alongside ethnomusicological research, educational initiatives for young people, and seven releases—six studio albums and one live album—testify to a journey through which traditional Bosnian music has reached new generations and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.
“Fifteen years means much more to us than simply celebrating an anniversary. It represents fifteen years of music, travel, encounters, and our own journey of growing up and maturing, as well as the many people who have, in different ways, become part of our story. That is why we are especially happy to mark this important milestone with a concert in December, together with all those dear people who have shaped our journey and left their mark on what Divanhana is today,” said the band’s vocalist, Selma Droce.
Over the years, Divanhana has developed a distinctive musical identity, bringing together the rich heritage of sevdalinka and contemporary sound. The band’s work has earned recognition beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with particular acclaim arriving in 2023, when its album Zavrzlama received an award from the British music magazine Songlines.
The Sarajevo concert will also provide an opportunity for the band to present its latest studio album, Radio Sevdah—a musical tribute to the former Radio Sarajevo and an era when sevdalinka was an integral part of everyday life for generations of listeners. Through this release, Divanhana revisits an important chapter in the region’s musical history, reinterpreting it through its own contemporary artistic vision.
“This concert will also be an opportunity to present our latest studio album, Radio Sevdah, to the audience. It is no coincidence that we have chosen to introduce the album to Sarajevo audiences only now. We want to offer our audience a truly unique musical experience that night. Preparations are already well underway, and we are genuinely looking forward to 19 December,” Selma Droce added.
Fifteen years after taking its first musical steps, Divanhana returns to Sarajevo with the songs, experiences, and stories that have shaped its journey. This anniversary celebrates not only the longevity of a musical career, but also a deep and enduring love for sevdalinka—a tradition kept alive through continual performance, research, creation, and sharing with audiences around the world.
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