During the Bosnian war (from 1992 to 1995) and shortly thereafter, some 7,000 Bosnian refugees settled in the greater Seattle metropolitan area. These refugees brought within themselves a great cultural treasure, which they would like to preserve through our Association, transfer it to their children, and share with the people of their new country.Our Association started its activities with its folk dance group, which had its first rehearsal on March 28, 2004. The Bosnian-Herzegovinan community as well as our friends and neighbors of other ethnic heritages enthusiastically greeted our first performance at the University of Washington Slavic Fest on May 16, 2004 and highly motivated us to continue our work.
The name of our Association is “Sevdah,” which in old-Bosnian means, among other things, “Love.” It is not by chance that we chose this name for our Association. Love expressed through art is what we would like to share with our fellow citizens, neighbors, and friends.
