YOUNG GUARDIANS OF IDENTITY: INDEPENDENCE DAY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA MARKED AT THE BOSNIAN HOUSE IN BIRMINGHAM
March 1st—Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina—was ceremoniously marked today at the Bosnian House in Birmingham. The event was attended by a large number of members of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community, including parents, students, representatives of various organizations, and friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The program began with the playing of the national anthems of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Kingdom, symbolically highlighting the connection between the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community in the UK and their homeland, as well as the society in which they currently live and operate.
Željko Komšić, a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the attendees via a video message, offering congratulations on Independence Day and thanking the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community in the UK for preserving their identity, culture, and traditions.
A special segment of the program was dedicated to the presentation of the book *We, the Children of Sarajevo* (*Mi, djeca Sarajeva*) by author Mensura Burridge—a poignant account of children growing up during the Siege of Sarajevo. The book tells a powerful story of courage, identity, and hope, while underscoring the importance of preserving collective memory.
Before the start of the cultural and artistic program, Emir Bolić—Secretary of the @bosniauknetwork and Director of the Bosnian Supplementary School in Birmingham—addressed the audience, speaking about the significance of preserving language, culture, and identity among the younger generations in the diaspora. A cultural and artistic program was prepared by students of the Bosnian Supplementary School in Birmingham and members of the “Fahira Hasedžić” Cultural and Artistic Society (KUD). The students performed recitations and songs dedicated to their homeland, including “Ja sin sam tvoj zemljo” (“I Am Your Son, O Land”), “Jedna si jedina” (“You Are the One and Only”), “Bosanske gore sniježne” (“Bosnia’s Snowy Mountains”), and “Ne dam domovinu” (“I Will Not Give Up My Homeland”). A particularly moving moment was the performance of the *sevdalinka* (traditional Bosnian folk song) “O Safete, Sajo, Sarajlijo,” interpreted by soloists Ayla Pezerović and Isak Golos.
The program was complemented by a folklore performance from the junior and intermediate groups of KUD “Fahira Hasedžić,” who danced traditional Bosnian *kolo* dances, once again showcasing the richness of the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the spirit of the month of Ramadan, following the conclusion of the program, the *adhan* (call to prayer) for *iftar* was recited by Azhar ef. Gazibegović. This was followed by a communal *iftar* for all attendees at the Bosnian House.
The event was organized by the BH Association Birmingham and the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, under the patronage of the Honorary Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Midlands region.
The commemoration of Independence Day at the Bosnian House once again demonstrated the strength and organizational capacity of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community in the United Kingdom, as well as the vital role of the younger generations—who, through language, culture, and tradition, continue to preserve the identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina far from their homeland.
BH UK Network
