A unique collection of folk poetry preserved through the tradition of iz vika singing, the book “Pesme iz vika” (Iz vika Songs) was published on June 24, 2026, by the World Music Association of Serbia (WMAS) and the Society for the Preservation of Traditional Iz Vika Singing from Nova Varoš.

“Pesme iz vika”  presents valuable examples of traditional folk poetry collected over many years of field research by Miroljub Raketić – Raketa, a renowned iz vika singer and a dedicated bearer of this tradition. The publication was edited by Jelena Đorđević, a professor of Serbian language and literature, and Marija Vitas, an ethnomusicologist.

Published in a limited edition, the book represents a significant contribution to the preservation of Serbia’s intangible cultural heritage and documents a poetic world that has been transmitted almost exclusively through oral tradition to the present day.

Unlike conventional anthologies of folk poetry, this collection approaches song as a living social practice – an integral part of everyday life, work, family relationships, love, social gatherings, and collective memory.

The songs are organized into thematic sections encompassing reflective, social, family, love, humorous, work-related, local, and patriotic songs, revealing the richness of a tradition that is at once restrained in expression and remarkably powerful in its emotional impact.

Particular value is added by the accompanying texts “Pesma kao život” (Song as Life) by Jelena Đorđević and “Sve bide i prođe” (All Things Come and Go) by Marija Vitas, which examine the tradition of iz vika singing not only as a musical and poetic phenomenon, but also as a way of life, a form of communication, and a spiritual artifact of a community whose voices today exist on an almost invisible boundary between vitality and disappearance.

Illustrated with both archival and contemporary photographs, the book serves simultaneously as a songbook, an ethnomusicological resource, and a testimony to the people who preserved these songs as part of their identity.

In a time of rapid cultural change, “Pesme iz vika” reminds us that traditional song was once much more than an art form – it was conversation, comfort, memory, and a means through which people remained connected to their community, their natural surroundings, and their homeland.

With this publication, WMAS continues its long-standing work in documenting, presenting, and promoting iz vika singing, one of the most distinctive forms of two-part singing and one of the most striking vocal expressions of Serbia’s traditional culture.

The first public presentation of the book is scheduled for July 22 in Nova Varoš, as part of the 15th “Sabor iz vika” gathering.

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