Oj, Kulo moja (ojkan) – Široka Kula, HR

HKUD “Široka Kula” Široka Kula
Nikola Rukavina – Lead Voice (prvi glas)
Ivan Starčević, Nikola Muhar, Mile Štampar, Mile Ćulumović, Nikola Milinković, Matej Delač – Second Voice (pratnja)

Coorganiser – Ivan Starčević

Lyrics (ENG)
Oy, Kula, half of my family
The other half from my wife’s side

Oy, I wouldn't give my karst Lika
For all the dolars of America

Oy, Lika, until your name lasts
We will preserve your customs

Lyrics (HR)
Oj Kulo moja, pola roda moga
Oj pola moga, pola ženinoga

Oj ne bi dao svoje kršne Like
Za dolare cijele Amerike

Aoj Liko, dok ti ime traje
Čuvat ćemo tvoje običaje

HKUD Široka Kula was founded in 2014, out of a desire to preserve and continue the traditions of the region. Along with a children's dance group, it has about 70 members, including residents of villages Perušić, Lički Osik, Gospić, Plitvička Jezera, with some members permanently living outside the region. The KUD members learn from old generations, singing the songs they found in the surrounding villages. The most important custom is ličko prelo. The repertoire includes bećarac, pjevanie uz dangubicu, rozgalica (ojkanje), and ring dances, including đikac kolo.

Široka Kula is a village in Lika-Senj County. It is located about 10 km northeast of Gospić. The villagers are engaged in shepherding and agriculture. Before the war in the 1990s, the majority of the inhabitants were Serbs; today the majority are Croats.

Lika is located between the Velebit mountain range (to the west) and Plješevica and Kapela (to the east). Administratively, it belongs to the following counties: Lika-Senj County, Šibenik-Knin County and Zadar County. Lika has a rich history and a unique musical culture, which has been preserved to this day.

"Oj Kulo moja" is a traditional "na bas" song associated with prelo. Lički ojkan is a type of song that begins with the syllable "oj." The lead singer elaborates and embellishes this opening sound, using it to ornament the entire song and to invite the rest of the group to join in the singing. It is a custom of working together in the autumn and winter (typical activities included spinning, feather tearing, peeling corn, etc.), during which the residents of neighboring villages had fun, strengthened ties, and young people would meet future spouses.

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About us – Balkan Polyphony is a field research project that collects traditional music from the Balkan area. We are not interested in any ideologies, we don’t take sides in any historical conflicts. What interests us is traditional culture and its musical intricacies.