The cannon from the Yellow Bastion has for centuries been signalling Sarajevo’s Muslims that they may begin Iftar, the meal at the end of a fasting day during Ramadan and Smail Krivic is firing it for more than 20 years already.
The cannon is fired from the Bastion which overlooks Sarajevo since the time when the Ottoman empire rules the region, and only paused during the years of former Yugoslavia.
But in 1997, Sarajevo’s “Ramadan cannoneer”, Smail Krivic, renewed the centuries-old tradition.
The cannon has become an attraction for many Sarajevans and tourists throughout the past few years, many of whom flock to the Yellow Bastion to break their fast during the evening Iftar hours, with a view over the old part of the city.
Krivic arrives at the Bastion about a half an hour before Iftar is to commence, preparing to play his traditional role. He waits, checking the time on his wristwatch as the last rays of sunshine disappear behind the Hum hill and the day’s evening, Aksam, begins.
He then fires the cannon, which is followed by the sound of multiple Ezan’s, Islamic calls for prayer, coming from Sarajevo’s many mosques.
Krivic told the Anadolu Agency that Ramadan is a special month and that the cannon overlooking Sarajevo has a special meaning to Sarajevans. He is happy that he is doing this task, and that the tradition continues on.
“It is very important to maintain this tradition,” he said.
