Being Muslim the Bosnian Way

by Tone Bringa

"I have been able to follow a Bosnian community over a period of six years, during which it has undergone dramatic changes. In the late 1980s people were working hard against economic crisis. In 1990 they were full of optimism for the future. In January 1993 the village was in fear, surrounded by war on all sides. In April 1993 it was attacked by Croat forces. In October 1993 none of the Muslims in the village remained. They had either fled, been placed in detention camps, or been killed."

Thus begins Tone Bringa's moving ethnographic account of Bosnian Muslims' lives in a rural village located near Sarajevo. Although they represent a majority of the population in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Muslims are still members of a minority culture in the region that was once Yugoslavia. The question of ethno- national identity has become paramount in this society, and the author focuses on religion as the defining characteristic of identity. Bringa pays particular attention to the roles that women play in defining Muslim identities, and she examines the importance of the household as a Muslim identity sphere. In so doing, she illuminates larger issues of what constitutes "nationality."

This is a gripping and heartfelt account of a community that has been torn apart by ethno-political conflict. It will attract readers of all backgrounds who want to learn more about one of the most intractable wars of the late twentieth century and the people who have been so tragically affected.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Islam, Anthropology

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does an excellent job of delivering the cultural and anthropological values of Islam and Bosnia-Herzegovina. It starts with the history of Islam in Europe and how Bosnia became predominantly Islamic. Very interesting explanations of the role of men and women in the home, marriage, social interactions and customs, village life, and Islam and Muslim identity. A very well researched and informative book about a culturally unique group of people in southern Europe. Thanks.

[Oobrey joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a anthro class at the U of Utah. It is an ethnography that heavily focuses on a female perspective in Bosnia in the early 90s. It is well written, which made me retain a lot of it I think, very clear. It was always great to read chapters of this throughout the first of the fall semester to get a break from my other classes.

I also found a new role model, Tone Bringa. Learning about her skills with finding genuine and compassionate relations with Bosnian Muslims and Christians.

This book shows how neighbors of decades (that work together, eat together, raise children together, and so on) can easily turn towards each other in the face of fear and nationalistic politics.

We also watched ‘We are all neighbors’ that shows Tone in Bosnia during the war. We watched as a class and since then I have forced 2 people to watch it with me again.

This class making me kinda like history. And also get too confident with asking my Bosnian coworker and my roommate’s Bosnian coworker if they are Czechs or Muslim. They are Czechs of course

Finished two weeks ago. Read in the lil educ rooms and in my bed. In the 17th house

[Edin Najetovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great anthropological portrait of a predominantly Muslim Bosnian village. I liked it mostly for the insight into my own heritage and learned some things. Something I thought was especially incisive and mirrors my own experiences was the insight that women, despite all the male bluster and bravado, run the show in most ways that matter.

Positive: Tone Bringa has fallen in love with the culture and it shows even in this essentially scientific book, goes deep on women's culture, snapshot of a world that vanished almost as it was described so bittersweet, respectful, coffee drinking as the metric for social importance is awesome

YMMV: it's a scientific work so very dry. Also necessarily suffers from tangential references to other anthropologists that probably commented on the work but are barely relevant. I'm not an anthropologist and there is some ethnographic jargon, but I think I got it from context

Negative: this focuses almost exclusively on the female experience, would have loved to learn more of the male perspective as well. Is very self contained almost parochial - A couple of more links to the city might have been interesting.

[Patrick Townshend · Rating 4 out of 5]

very readable despite scientific undertones. loved the part on 'fictive elopements'.

[Thorn MotherIssues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize I'm reading this well after it was written, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a final chapter talking about how things had changed in the village, how the creation of Muslim identity played out during the leadup to the war years. I know those were mentioned and interspersed without, but seeing the ending without some sort of tribute to the people who lived in and lost their village felt wrong to me. I really got a lot out of the book, though, and it made me realize how much my understanding of Bosnia was based on the urban situation.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly detailed and interesting anthropological read. While at times it seemed to drag on, I'm glad I read to the end. Although by the end I wondered whether this was relevant educationally, because the culture described had been either destroyed or displaced abroad by the war in Bosnia. But I realized that it is historically significant, as much as learning about ancient cultures that have gone extinct. It provides a glimpse into the background of tensions leading to the war as well as giving a broader look at religious and cultural diversity.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should have been titled "Being a Muslim Woman the Bosnian Way". Though the author does acknowledge a large part of the book focuses on the female perspective, I found the focus a bit tiring. Overall it was a good ethnography and I found myself retaining content more than others which I may be able to attribute to the author's style of writing.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book accurately explaining traditional bosnian life and incorporating religion into it and how different bosnia is from other muslim countries.

i learned things from this book that i didn't even know about my own people. maybe you will too.