Artist
North Macedonia
Influences:
Gypsy
Genres:
gipsygipsygipsysvirete ja,
gipsygipsygipsygipsy music
IN THE CHARTS
PHOTOS
Followers
ABOUT
Esma Redžepova-Teodosievska(Macedonian:Есма Реџепова-ТеодосиевскаMacedonian pronunciation:[ˈɛsma rɛˈdʒɛpɔva tɛɔˈdɔsiɛvska]) (born 8 August 1943) is aMacedonian-Romanivocalist, songwriter, andhumanitarian. Because of her prolific repertoire, which includes hundreds of songs, and because of her contribution to Roma culture and its promotion, she is nicknamedQueen of the Gypsies.
She started to sing while she was a teenager in the 1950s, and her career spans over five decades. Her musical success is closely linked to her marriage withStevo Teodosievski, who was a composer, arranger and director of a musical ensemble, theAnsambl Teodosievski. He wrote many of her songs and fully managed her career until his death in 1997. Her musical style is mostly inspired by traditionalRomaandMacedonian music. Some other influences are also noticeable, such aspop music. Esma Redžepova started her career at a period when Romani music was very denigrated inYugoslaviaand Roma people considered it shameful for women to sing in public. Redžepova was one of the first singers to sing inRomani languageon radio and television.[1]
Redžepova is particularly noted for her powerful and emotional voice. In 2010, she was cited among the50 great voicesin the world byNPR, a prominent American media organization.[2]Redžepova is also noted for her extravagant attires and herturbans, as well as the use she makes of typical stereotypes about Roma women, such as sensuality and happiness. In 2010, she was awarded the Macedonian Order of Merit, and she was entitledNational Artist of the Republic of Macedoniain 2013 by the Macedonian President,Gjorgje Ivanov.[3]
With her late husbandStevo Teodosievskishe hasfosteredforty-seven children, and has received numerous accolades for her humanitarian work.[4]She supports Roma and women rights and is also involved in local politics in her hometown,Skopje.
Redžepova, together withVlatko Lozanoski,represented Macedoniain theEurovision Song Contest 2013inMalmö,Sweden.[5]
She started to sing while she was a teenager in the 1950s, and her career spans over five decades. Her musical success is closely linked to her marriage withStevo Teodosievski, who was a composer, arranger and director of a musical ensemble, theAnsambl Teodosievski. He wrote many of her songs and fully managed her career until his death in 1997. Her musical style is mostly inspired by traditionalRomaandMacedonian music. Some other influences are also noticeable, such aspop music. Esma Redžepova started her career at a period when Romani music was very denigrated inYugoslaviaand Roma people considered it shameful for women to sing in public. Redžepova was one of the first singers to sing inRomani languageon radio and television.[1]
Redžepova is particularly noted for her powerful and emotional voice. In 2010, she was cited among the50 great voicesin the world byNPR, a prominent American media organization.[2]Redžepova is also noted for her extravagant attires and herturbans, as well as the use she makes of typical stereotypes about Roma women, such as sensuality and happiness. In 2010, she was awarded the Macedonian Order of Merit, and she was entitledNational Artist of the Republic of Macedoniain 2013 by the Macedonian President,Gjorgje Ivanov.[3]
With her late husbandStevo Teodosievskishe hasfosteredforty-seven children, and has received numerous accolades for her humanitarian work.[4]She supports Roma and women rights and is also involved in local politics in her hometown,Skopje.
Redžepova, together withVlatko Lozanoski,represented Macedoniain theEurovision Song Contest 2013inMalmö,Sweden.[5]
