Safet Isović | |
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 Isović in 1965 | |
| Born | (1936-01-08)8 January 1936 |
| Died | 2 September 2007(2007-09-02) (aged 71) Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Resting place | Ali Pasha's Mosque, Sarajevo |
| Other names | Kralj sevdaha (King of Sevdah) |
| Alma mater | University of Sarajevo (LLB) |
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| Years active | 1956–2007[1][2] |
| Children | Benjamin Isović |
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Safet Isović (8 January 1936 – 2 September 2007) was aBosnian singer who performed the Bosnian traditional musicsevdalinka.
Isović was born into aBosniak family inBileća, located in theHerzegovina region of modern-dayBosnia and Herzegovina, while it was a part ofKingdom of Yugoslavia.[3] Safet was one of three children of Ahmet Isović and Ermina; his brother's name was Fehim and his sister was Fehma. Safet's father Ahmet was the son of Zaim Isović, whose first wife, Derviša (née Baraković), died during childbirth on 19 June 1900.
Safet became a war refugee at the age of five in 1941 whenYugoslavia was invaded by Nazi Germany.[4] His family escaped toBanja Luka, where he attended elementary school.[5] After the war, the Isović family returned to Bileća. In his youth, Safet's family moved aroundYugoslavia and lived in several cities, including Bileća, Banja Luka,Trebinje andSlavonski Brod.
Upon graduating from high school, Isović wanted to enroll in college inZagreb, but under pressure from his parents he moved toSarajevo in 1955 and began attendinglaw school.[6]
While studying in Sarajevo, he was persuaded by college friends to audition for the student ensemble "Slobodan Princip Seljo," where he impressed the panel. Shortly after joining the group, friends persuaded him to audition forRadio Sarajevo. He failed his first audition but passed the second and spent the following year with music teachers, singing and learning to play the piano. After a year of study, he was invited to record two songs, which were released on 6 April 1957.
Isović held his first solo concert on 19 March 1963 inBelgrade and was the only singer from the former Yugoslavia ever to perform at theSydney Opera House inAustralia.
During his 50+ year-long career, he covered manysevdalinka and Bosnian folk songs, includingMoj dilbere.[7]
Isović won many awards and performed at some of the largest festivals throughout theformer Yugoslavia. This contributed significantly to the rebirth of thesevdalinka. He won theGolden Microphone award in Yugoslavia and 35 regional silver and gold record awards.
In a radio interview, fellow Bosnian sevdalinka singerSilvana Armenulić said that she was a fan of his music and called Isović her "darling."
Although a self-described anti-Communist, Isović spent time withcommunist politiciansAvdo Humo andDžemal Bijedić, and Yugoslav presidentJosip Broz Tito and his wifeJovanka Broz.
Isović was a staunch supporter ofBosniak nationalism and was one of the signatories of the founding charter of theSDA. Later, he would serve as their delegate in theAssembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[8]
In the summer of 1992, Isović was injured by bombing during theBosnian War when a grenade hit his apartment, which followed thedissolution of Yugoslavia. During theYugoslav wars of the 1990s, Isović became a war refugee for the second time in his life, living inZagreb, Croatia until the end of the Bosnian War. He spent the final decade of his life in Sarajevo.
Isović died on 2 September 2007 in Sarajevo and was buried the next day atAli Pasha's Mosque.[9] His death provoked a massive outpouring of grief around the country. At a memorial service held at theNational Theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was called the "Father of theSevdalinka" byBeba Selimović. The Minister of Culture and Sport,Emir Hadžihafizbegović said that Safet Isović did great deeds both when he spoke and when he sang. Ivica Šarić, of the Sarajevo Opera, said that the world was left now without the best interpreter ofsevdalinka.[10]
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