"From the poor man to the king of Roma music" is the name of the exhibition about the music of Šaban Bajramović, which will last half a year at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Indira Gandhi declared him the king of Romani music, and Niš is bothered by his monument and the street
The New Orleans Jazz Museum has an exhibit on the music going on Saban Bajramović entitled "From the poor man to the king of Roma music". It will last six months with the possibility of extension, and it is the first performance by a musician from Serbia in that institution.
The initiator of the exhibition is the Nashville International Jazz Festival.
The display includes Bajramović's personal items, records, cassettes, CD albums, posters, books and magazines, as well as his statuette, which Nishville awards as a grand prix to the best performers for the fusion of jazz with other genres.
Visitors will be able to listen to his songs via QR codes on their phones, and they will also be able to see the trailer of the film about Šaban directed by Željko Mirković, which will premiere on July 14 at the Summer Stage in Tvrđava, the day before the start of this year's Nišvil.
He died on June 8, 2008, and his funeral in Nis was attended by the then President of Serbia, Boris Tadić.
Official biographical data says that he wrote and composed more than 700 songs, and recorded 20 albums and around 50 singles.
His performance of the song "Đelem, Đelem" was chosen as the anthem of all the Roma of the world.
At the personal invitation of Indira Gandhi, he performed in India, where he was officially declared the King of Roma music
"Time" magazine named him one of the ten greatest blues singers in the world.
The erection of the monument was initiated by Nišvil and its director Ivan Blagojević, at the idea of the then Minister of Culture Nebojša Bradić. The monument consists of a figure of Bajramović more than two meters high and a pedestal of one meter, and it was made by the sculptor Vladan Ašanin.
Goran Bregović, as well as Esma Redžepova, the organizer of the Rock Village festival Mirko Miljuš, former prime minister Zoran Živković, director Goran Paskaljević, director and actor Ljubiša Samardžić, the then mayor of Niš Miloš Simonović and others were donors to the construction of the monument to Šaban, in the amphitheater on Nišavski Quay.
The monument consists of a figure of Bajramović more than two meters high and a pedestal of one meter, and it was made by the sculptor Vladan Ašanin. Unknown vandals poured paint on the monument several times and drew a swastika on its pedestal.
Bajramović also got a street in Niš.
Regarding the location for erecting the monument and designating a street with his name, there were protests by some citizens, who denied his musical qualities, had objections to his bohemian life or vices, and his Roma origin also "bothered" them.
Before his death, he told journalists that he was living hard, that he was struggling, and that after 40 years of singing, everyone had forgotten him, no one would open the gate for him and answer the phone.
In the Museum in New Orleans, Saban Bajramović will be next to his idols Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and James Brown.
Source: Today
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