Živana Antonijević

Živana Antonijević or Blind Živana (she was probably born in the 1770s and died in Zemun in 1828) was Serbian storyteller, female gusle player (Serbian: guslar) and one of the most important sources for Serbian epic poetry recorded by Vuk Karadžić. Vuk would always distinguish between pjevaći stvaraoci (singers composers) and pjevaći prenosioc (singers who merely repeated what they had heard before). Živana Antonijević, along with her three other female gusle players and composers, Jeca, Slepa Stepanija, and another unnamed woman, were in the creative category.

Živana was one of favorite women singers of Vuk Karadžić who published seven songs recorded from her:

• Како се крсно име служи (Kako se krsno ime služi)
• Ко крсно име слави оном и помаже (Ko krsno ime slavi)

In both of these songs Živana refers to an old folk belief i.e. that the patron saint (guardian saint) hovers over the shoulder of his protégé, and acts accordingly.

• Marko Kraljević and Alil-Aga (Serbian: Марко Краљевић и Алил-ага)

Here Živana talks of the holy duty of pobratismo. When Alil-Aga realizes that he is going to lose and will have to pay with his life, he pleads to Marko to accept his pledge of 'brother-unto-God'. Both men become brothers for life.

• Marko Kraljević and the twelve Moors (Serbian: Марко Краљевић и дванаест Арапа)
• Perilous Bogdan and voivode Dragija (Serbian: Љутица Богдан и војвода Драгија)
• Vučko Ljubičić
• Nahod Momir

In "Nahod Momir" Živana describes the proper ritual when a foundling is being accepted as adopted son by the czar (emperor) and later the czaritsa (empress) herself.

Some other songs are also recorded from her, including:

• Marko and the vila (Serbian: Марко Краљевић и вила)
• The unfaithful wife of Grujica (Serbian: Невјера љубе Грујичине)

In "The unfaithful wife of Grujica" Živana tells us of the love of a parent (Grujica) for his little son.

• The Wedding of Todor of Stalać (Serbian: Женидба Тодора од Сталаћа)

Jelisaveta Marković (Blind Jeca), who was also a blind storyteller (one of four whose songs were recorded by Karadžić) was Živana's pupil.