| Gorani | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total population |
35,000-50,000 approx. |
|
| Regions with significant populations |
|
|
| Language(s) | Našinski and Serbian, minor Albanian | Religion(s) | Predominantly Islam | Related ethnic groups | Bosniaks, South Slavs, Torbesh, Pomaks |
Gorani (also Горанци/Goranci) are a South Slavic ethnic group, living in the mountainous Gora-Dragaš region, just south of Prizren in the territory of Kosovo (Serbia), north-western Macedonia in the Šar Planina region near Tetovo, as well as in north-eastern Albania (most notably in Shishtavec (Local Slavic: Шиштејец, Šištejec) in Kukës County). Gorani are Slavic Muslims.
Contents |
Language
The Gorani speak Našinski a Torlakian dialect. Most also speak Albanian as a second language as well as Serbian. In the 1991 Yugoslav census, 54.8% of the inhabitants of the Gora municipality said that they spoke the Gorani language, roughly in proportion to the number who considered themselves primarily ethnic Gorani. A little less than half the inhabitants of Gora declared that they spoke the Serbian language.[1]. Some Goranian intellectuals and researchers define their language as Bulgarian, similar to the Bulgarian dialects spoken in Northwest Macedonia.[1]
Politics
The rise of Albanian nationalism has had a negative effect on Gorani-Albanian relations. [2] The 1980s saw the advent of a Gorani national revival, they officially broke away from the name of Muslims by nationality (as dictated by the Yugoslav government to describe primarily the Slavic Muslims in Bosnia). Some began Slavicizing their surnames (i.e. Ahmeti became Ahmetović). Some members of neighbouring ethnic groups consider the Gorani as "their own", with varying degrees of justification. The Gorani themselves are divided as to whether they constitute as separate nation, or simply a separate branch of some larger nation (and if so, which one). The Serbian viewpoint is either all or some of them are (or were originally) Serbs of Muslim faith. Some consider them Albanians. Indeed during the 2004 unrest in Kosovo in Kosovo some Gorani shops in Novi Sad were vandalised due to the fact that Gorani have Albanian names, and were mistakenly assumed to be Albanians by looting mobs.[2] During the Milošević era, they were "prided as being the sole guarantors of Serbia's southern flank" by the state-controlled media. On the basis of Slavic origins and Muslim faith, they were also claimed by some Bosniaks [3] [4]. On the basis of the language and proximity, they were also claimed as ethnic Macedonians [5] [6] [7] or Bulgarians [8], [9]. In 2005, an alleged attempt to create a "Bulgarian national community" among Gorani is reported [10] supposedly with the motive of getting a mentorship and passports of Bulgaria, a European Union member. These attempts were supported by some Gorani, for various motives; others bitterly resent that whoever sought Gorani support for their agenda have done nothing for the development of the people and the area, which is one of the most underdeveloped in the region.
Gorani diaspora
The Gora region is covered with rough terrain, its name even means 'mountain' in Slavic and the name of its people 'highlanders'. The Gora is an underdeveloped region and for almost two centuries, its male inhabitants would go off to more distant regions in order to find work. Due to this, a true Gorani diaspora has come to life with many living in parts of Central Serbia (particularly Belgrade - 3,340), Vojvodina (606), Republic of Macedonia (particularly the Western parts), Italy and Turkey.
Population
The Gorani population numbered some 16,000, in the Gora administrative division, according to the 1991 census. Gorani leaders today estimate that fewer than 10,000 are left in Gora. Most Goranis state that the unstable situation and the economic issue drives them to leave Kosovo. There is also some mention of threats and discrimination. [11] The UN administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, has redrawn internal boundaries in the province in such a way that a Gorani-majority municipality no longer exists. The Gora was combined with the neighbouring Albanian-populated region of Opolje (some 20,000 people) into a new subdivision named Dragaš, which now has an Albanian majority. In Albania, the Gorani live in 11 villages centered around Shishtavec in the Kukës region.
Culture
Gorani are traditionally known as good confectioners. They are most known for their traditional celebrations of their slava, Saint George's Day (Djurdjevdan).
Traditional Music
Traditional Gorani folk music includes a two-beat dance called "kolo", which is a circle dance focused on the foot movements, it always starts on the right foot and moves in an anti-clockwise direction. Kolo is usually accompanied by instrumental music made often with a Zurle or Kaval and Tapan or Davul, kolo's are less frequently accompanied by singing as they are in neighboring ethnic groups such as the Albanians and Serbians.
Gallery
 The Šarplaninac dog from the Gora region |
See also
References
- ^ Dokle, Nazif. Reçnik Goransko (Nashinski) - Albanski, Sofia 2007, Peçatnica Naukini akademiji "Prof. Marin Drinov", s. 5, 11, 19 (Nazif Dokle. Goranian-Albanian Dictionary, Sofia 2007, Published by Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, p. 5, 11, 19)
- ^ http://hrw.org/reports/2005/serbia1005/4.htm#_Toc115505925
External links
- RADEŠANIN - sve za Gora i goranski narod
- Onlinebrod
- RADIO GORA
- GORA-BROD
- Project Rastko - Gora, E-library of culture and tradition of Gora and Gorani people
- Gorani (Nasencite) (in Bulgarian language)
- A Travel among Goranis (in Bosnian)
- Gorani Fear Losing Identity, Adrian Kelmendi, Institute for War And Peace Reporting, 21 February 2001
- The minorities within the minority, The Economist, 2 November 2006
Video Clips
- Clip of the Gorani film Ofčarče
- Photo presentation with traditional Gorani music
- Another photo presentation of Gorani villages with traditional music PART I
- [http://www.youtube.com/v/IO46NAB5CwI PART II "Setnja kroz goranske sela"
- Naša Gora - A beautiful photo presentation
- "Snimak iz Brodska Svadba 2007.Ekiba Onlinebrod prestava sa svoje snimci" - A Gorani wedding in Brod
Ethnic groups of Serbia | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | Demographic history of Serbia Bosniaks · Ethnic Muslims · Jews · Montenegrins · Roma · Romanians · Serbs · Vlachs |  |
| Vojvodina | Demographic history of Vojvodina Banat Bulgarians · Bunjevci · Croats · Danube Swabians (Banat Swabians) · Hungarians · Montenegrins · Pannonian Rusyns · Roma · Romanians · Serbs · Slovaks · Šokci · Székelys | |
| Kosovo | Demographic history of Kosovo Albanians · Ashkali · Egyptians · Gorani · Croats · Montenegrins · Serbs · Turks | |
