Singing to the accompaniment of the gusle — a simple single-string instrument — is an ancient performance tradition centred primarily on heroic epics. Practised for centuries, it serves both as a form of historical memory and as an expression of cultural identity. Performances involve a dynamic interaction between performer and audience and rely heavily on the skill and creativity of the soloist, known as a guslar. The guslar’s ability to dramatise poetic narratives through voice, gesture and presence is central to a compelling performance.
The repertoire largely consists of songs about mythical and historical heroes, events from the legendary past, and episodes from both ancient and more recent history, alongside occasional ballads and humorous pieces. Performances take place in a variety of settings, including local gatherings, festivals and commemorative events.
Spanning a wide range of themes, these songs reflect the values and collective memory of the communities that sustain them, while their interactive nature strengthens communal bonds. Most contemporary guslars learn the fundamentals of singing and playing from experienced performers within their families, local communities or guslar associations, though the tradition is also taught in public music schools.
Srđan Avdalović was born on May 2, 1994, in Trebinje, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He completed his primary and secondary education in Gacko. In 2013, he moved to Belgrade to enroll at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy. Throughout his career as a gusle player, Srđan has won several prestigious awards. He won 1st place at the Youth Gusle Players Festival of the Republic of Srpska in 2010 and 1st place at the Gusle Players Festival of Serbia in 2019. He achieved 2nd place at the Gusle Players Festival of Serbia in 2021 and 2023, and 3rd place at the same festival in 2022. He also won 3rd place at the Federal Festival of Serbian Gusle Players in 2022 and 2025. Since 2023, Srđan has held the title of “National Gusle Player”. He serves as the president of the Gusle Association in Belgrade, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional epic singing accompanied by the gusle. Srđan is married and the father of two children, a son, Jug, and a daughter, Mila.
Check out performances by this artist: