Esma Redžepova 
Across her lifetime Esma Redžepova (1943 - 2016) became a legend of Balkan music. Born into a poor-but-loving Roma family in the historic heart of Skopje (the capital of the Republic of Macedonia), while World War II raged across Yugoslavia, Redžepova proved to be a child prodigy. Her skills as a singer and dancer won talent quests and lead to the Macedonian bandleader Stevo Teodosievski approaching Esma’s father as to the possibility of his gifted daughter joining the folk ensemble Stevo lead as vocalist. Esma was only thirteen years old, and anti-Roma prejudice meant many Macedonians ridiculed Teodosievski, but he realised in Esma a talent so remarkable it needed to be cultivated. So began a musical career that would continue for sixty years and see Esma become a household name across Yugoslavia (friendly with President Tito, singing for world leaders, rubbing shoulders with film stars, a bright emblem of Yugoslav inclusiveness) while being celebrated internationally as “Queen of the Gypsies”. The music Esma made with Stevo - whom she would marry and work with until his death from cancer in the 1990s - was often stunning and continues to be listened to today: her early-1960s hit Chaje Shukarije (Romany for ‘pretty girl’ - a song Esma composed as a teen) is now a Balkan standard and played over the opening credits of the first Borat film (not to Esma’s pleasure - she disliked the film’s ridicule of Roma and East European peasantry). Alongside being a famous entertainer, it was her efforts as a humanitarian, especially with refugees from the Kosovo conflict (Kosovo borders Macedonia), that saw the Macedonian government twice nominate Redžepova for the Nobel Peace Prize. While she failed to win a Nobel, the nomination suggests the very high standing Esma was held in; few musicians not only define a genre but also are hailed for their efforts to bring peace and relief to 
the marginalised. But Esma, who knew how hard life could be for minorities - her beloved father lost his leg during the Nazi bombing of Skopje yet kept working as a shoeshiner to provide for his 
family - never stopped both campaigning for human rights and making music. 

Nune Brothers 
The Nune Brothers are one of Macedonia’s most popular and acclaimed young bands.