Esma Redzepova
Esma Redžepova-Teodosievska (Macedonian: Есма Реџепова-Теодосиевска, pronounced [ˈɛsma rɛˈd͡ʒɛpɔva tɛɔdɔˈsiɛfska]; 8 August 1943 – 11 December 2016) was a Macedonian Romani vocalist, songwriter and humanitarian. She was nicknamed "the Queen of the Gypsies".
She started to sing while she was a teenager in the 1950s, and her career spans over five decades, which she began with Stevo Teodosievski, who became her mentor and husband. Due to racism against Romani people in Socialist Republic of Macedonia, she and Teodosievski lived in Belgrade until the breakup of Yugoslavia. Her musical style was mostly inspired by traditional Romani and Macedonian music. Some other influences are also noticeable, such as pop music. She was noted for her powerful and emotional voice. Redžepova is listed among the 50 Great Voices in the world by NPR. Redžepova was also noted for her extravagant attires and her turbans, as well as the use she made of typical stereotypes about Romani women, such as sensuality and happiness.
As part of her humanitarian engagement, she fostered 47 children with Teodosievski and supported various causes. She also involved in local politics in her hometown of Skopje as a member of VMRO-DPMNE. In 2010, she was awarded the Macedonian Order of Merit and in 2013, she was named National Artist of the Republic of Macedonia by president of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov. Together with Vlatko Lozanoski, she represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. Initially, they were supposed to sing the song "Imperija" (Empire), but that song caused controversy due to the depiction of monuments of Skopje 2014 in its clip, so a new song, "Pred da se razdeni", was chosen, with which they participated. The song failed to qualify for the final.
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