August 27, 2026, was special in many ways. The day before, Maestro Damir Imamović had performed the final concert of this year’s “Damir Imamović’s Sevdah at Svrzo’s House” series at this branch of the Museum of Sarajevo. On August 27, he also delivered a lecture for our fellow citizens, who, for the first time, were able to follow it both in person and online. On this occasion, he presented the findings of his research, compiled in his book The Saz in Sarajevo.
The Maestro’s presentation featured thoroughly researched facts, photographs of saz players from the past, and the oldest audio recordings from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo. A particularly memorable moment came when Damir presented an article from 1966 about sevdah in the Bezistan. The atmosphere of the lecture was further enriched by a painting depicting a saz player, created by artist Adis Lukac.
The Museum of Sarajevo is an institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This month’s lecture embodied the mission and vision of the “Our Heritage” project, while the fact that the project’s 27th lecture was held on August 27, 2026, carried special symbolic significance.
Last night, Damir Imamović brought together history, culture, tradition, and sevdah, reviving the memory of the saz players of old and bringing their legacy closer to everyone in attendance. The evening concluded in the spirit of sevdah, with the audience joining Damir in song. We thank the Maestro for an outstanding lecture and look forward to future projects together.
