In the heart of Mostar, where Ottoman charm meets Mediterranean soul, there lives a love story woven into the very essence of the city. It’s the story of Emina, a beautiful young girl whose grace inspired one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most beloved poems, later transformed into a timeless sevdalinka. For visitors seeking to understand Mostar beyond its iconic bridge, the legend of Emina offers a deeply emotional and cultural connection to this historic city.
Who Was Emina?
Emina Sefić was a young Bosniak girl who lived in Mostar at the turn of the 20th century. Known for her captivating beauty, she became the muse of Aleksa Šantić, a renowned poet and one of the most prominent cultural figures in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Šantić, who lived across the street from Emina, admired her silently. One day, he saw her in her courtyard watering roses with a silver jug, and that fleeting moment of beauty moved him to write his most famous poem, simply titled “Emina.” The poem was first published in 1902 and soon became a cherished expression of unspoken love and longing.
From Poem to Sevdalinka
Like the city itself, the poem evolved with time. Emina was later adapted into a sevdalinka, a traditional genre of Bosnian folk music that captures themes of love, loss, and nostalgia. The most well-known rendition of the song was performed by Himzo Polovina, a legendary singer and psychiatrist from Mostar.
When Emina Sefić passed away in 1967, Polovina, moved by the moment, collaborated with poet Sevda Katica to write additional verses mourning both Emina and Šantić. These haunting lines deepened the story’s emotional impact:
“Umro stari pjesnik, umrla Emina,
Ostala je pusta bašča od jasmina,
Salomljen je ibrik, uvelo je cvijeće,
Pjesma o Emini, nikad umrijet neće.”
Translation:
“The old poet has died, Emina has died,
The empty garden of jasmine was left behind,
The pitcher is broken, the flowers have withered,
The song about Emina will never die.”
Visit the Statue of Emina in Mostar
To honor her memory, a bronze statue of Emina was erected in 2010, just steps from the iconic Muslibegović House in Mostar. Created by sculptor Zlatko Dizdarević, the statue offers visitors a chance to step into the poetic past and experience the moment that inspired Šantić’s verse. Though no photos of Emina exist, the statue is a symbolic representation of Bosnian beauty and elegance.
A Cultural Landmark Beyond the Bridge
While the Stari Most (Old Bridge) may be Mostar’s most photographed landmark, the story of Emina is one of its most soulful. It reflects the city’s rich blend of cultures, its romantic spirit, and the power of art to immortalize a single moment forever.
Why You Should Visit
Whether you’re a literature lover, a history enthusiast, or simply someone seeking the heart of Mostar, the story of Emina will stay with you long after your visit. Take a walk through the old town, pause at her statue, and let the verses of Šantić’s poem echo in your heart.
Come for the bridge—but stay for the story.
