17/06/2026
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𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬
👉In the heart of the village of Vejce, within the Shar Mountain National Park in North Macedonia, among the mountain peace and quiet streets, live and work two brothers who have been preserving one of the most beautiful Balkan musical traditions for years. Selam and Naim Abduramani are masters of crafting the traditional instrument called the chifteli – a sound that carries history, emotion, and identity.
This craft story began decades ago, when their father first started making the instrument. At that time, tools were simple, and each part of the chifteli was made with great effort and precise handwork. Over the years, the brothers inherited this craft and continued the family tradition, enriching it with new knowledge, experience, and dedication.
“Our goal is for every instrument to sound perfect,” they say, while in their workshop one can feel the smell of wood and the sound of careful craftsmanship. Today, they produce approximately 250 to 300 chifteli instruments per year, which reflects strong dedication and steady demand.
Their instruments are sold in several cities across North Macedonia – Tetovo, Skopje, and Gostivar – but they also work on special orders. Customers often request a personal touch: engraved names, birth dates, or dedications, making each instrument unique and unrepeatable.
The brothers’ workshop is not only a place of production but also a small cultural station. When tourists visit, they proudly present every stage of the crafting process – from selecting materials to assembling the parts and the time required to complete a single chifteli. The visit ends in the most beautiful way: with a live performance, allowing visitors to experience the warm and distinctive sound of the instrument.
Although the chifteli is most often purchased as a souvenir or for personal enjoyment, for the Abduramani brothers it is serious work with continuous demand. Tradition, they say, is not only the past – it is also the present and the future.
In Vejce, among wood, tools, and music, Selam and Naim Abduramani continue to prove that true art does not age – it only gains a deeper sound with every newly crafted chifteli. In such an environment, there is also hope that life in Vejce can survive and develop, thanks to tradition, hard work, and the connection with nature.
Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust - PONT
