Debut Esma Redžepova

stevo teodosievski, esma s manager , later husband.

in 1956, esma s headteacher suggested sing @ school talent contest radio skopje. went there without telling parents, did not want follow path of older sister started sing in cafes @ 17. among roma people, such career viewed shameful unmarried girl.

esma performed bre babi, macedonian roma traditional song. first time song in romani aired station. esma won contest, beating 57 other schools , winning 9,000 dinars. when esma s parents learned success, extremely upset , reluctant let follow musical career. @ time, possible career roma singers perform in cafes , restaurants no other prospect.

stevo teodosievski, ethnic macedonian musician , band frontman, impressed esma s performance @ contest , wanted join musical ensemble. teodosievski self-taught man coming poor background, leading large folk ensemble, ansambl teodosievski. worked radio skopje , member of league of communists of macedonia.

being part of local establishment, teodosievski visionary because believed roma music become esteemed , popular among non-romani people. indeed, @ time, roma music in yugoslavia depreciated , not considered suitable radio or television. furthermore, racism against roma people common in macedonia , rest of yugoslavia , roma people had poor image of roma singers, female ones. before esma, roma performers never sang in romani on radio or television , hid origins. teodosievski had been promoting roma music before meeting redžepova , had faced severe criticism media doing so. knew esma redžepova him achieve goal , become 1 of prominent artists in country. convinced esma s parents let go him , join ensemble. both promised esma sing on reputable scenes.

when met in skopje, stevo teodosievski not satisfied esma s voice, , encouraged train long hours. enrolled @ academy of music in belgrade, stayed 2 years.