A CENTURY OF A MORNING CALL The familiar tunes woke up Zenica residents this May 1st too!

(Patria) - The traditional 100th May Day morning call through the streets and alleys, performed by the Zenica Brass Band, woke up the residents of that city this morning with recognizable tunes for May 1st – International Workers' Day.

The conductor of the Brass Band, Azur Bijedić, emphasized that they are finally celebrating their 100th anniversary and a great jubilee. The tradition of the May Day morning call was not interrupted even during the war years, but it was in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We have been waiting for the jubilee for many years. We are approaching 100 years, and that is, truly, a big thing for us. We have managed to maintain the orchestra through all generations, and this is its first 'hundredth'," hopes Bijedić, who points out that the guarantee of the orchestra's longevity is the young generation of Zenica musicians.

On the truck, which transports them through the city streets, there were also many young people this morning, who are maintaining the tradition.

"I am the oldest, but I am not old at all. I still belong to the young. So, there are children, high school students. We also have elementary school students. Of course, university students and business people, but they are all young people. And that is the future of this orchestra – children," said Bijedić.

Unfortunately, he adds, Nova Željezara Zenica and its owners are having business problems, so they could not arrange cooperation with that company this year in terms of providing a truck for transporting the musicians.

"For many years, transportation was provided by Željezara, Mittal. Nova Željezara is, unfortunately, now in a very unenviable position, and they could not accommodate us this year. However, we found our fellow citizen – Mahmić transport. I must say, he is a man who agreed yesterday to drive us, and here he is with us. Fortunately," says Bijedić.

He is optimistic, he emphasizes, but also hopes that Željezara will overcome its problems and that it will function and exist.

"The orchestra, as a citizens' association, will certainly exist. Regardless of any economic entity. So, I think we have started the 'second hundred'," stated Bijedić.

The Zenica brown coal mine, which was opened in 1879, has not produced coal for almost two years, and steel has not been produced since last week.

Nova Željezara Zenica, as the company founded in 1892 is now called – everyone hopes only temporarily – by shutting down the blast furnace, agglomeration, and steelworks, stopped the integral steel production last week.