Esma Redžepova was born in Skopje.
Esma Redžepova was born on August 8, 1943, in Skopje, in what was then Yugoslavia. Her birth marked the beginning of a life that would greatly influence the world of Romani music. Born into a musical Romani family, she was deeply immersed in music from an early age, a factor that shaped her future career.
Growing up in a time of significant political and social upheaval, she faced the barriers of a society that often marginalized the Romani community. Despite these challenges, her family background and early exposure to music set her on a path towards becoming an international cultural icon.