Famous People Born In Sarajevo

Emir Kusturica is a Serbian actor, screenwriter, film director, producer, and musician. Counted among the most famous European filmmakers of his generation, Kusturica is renowned for his naturalistic and surreal films. Over the course of his illustrious career, Emir Kusturica has won several prestigious awards including a Silver Bear and two Palme d'Or awards.

Goran Bregović is a recording artist who achieved prominence as the lead guitarist of the popular rock band, Bijelo Dugme. One of the most popular composers and modern musicians from the Balkans, Goran Bregović is also one of the few Yugoslav musicians to have performed at international venues like the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and L'Olympia.

Željko Bebek is a Bosnian and Croatian musician and vocalist. He is best known for his association with  the Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme, where he performed as the lead singer from 1974 to 1984. He left the band in April 1984 to pursue a solo career. Today, Željko Bebek is considered one of the most popular Bosnian and Croatian artistes of his generation.           

Former Serbian president Boris Tadić had been a member of the Democratic Party since its inception. He later launched the Social Democratic Party, which he now heads. A staunch EU supporter, he donated the financial part of the European Prize for Political Culture he received to charitable causes.

Momcilo Krajisnik was a Bosnian Serb politician best known for co-founding the Serb Democratic Party alongside Radovan Karadžić. Although he was an important politician, Momčilo Krajišnik was accused of crimes against humanity in 2006 and was given a 20-year prison sentence.

Vladimir Prelog was a Croatian-Swiss organic chemist known for his research into the stereochemistry of organic molecules and reactions. He received his Sc.D under the guidance of prominent chemist and composer Emil Votoček. He had a successful academic career and received the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was also a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.  

David Elazar was an Israeli military commander best remembered for his service as the Israel Defense Forces' Chief of Staff from 1972 to 1974. As the Chief of Staff, Elazar saw action in The Yom Kippur War which broke out in October 1973. Israel took a beating as it was unprepared and Elazar was forced to retire after the war.

Davorin Popović was a Bosnian singer-songwriter best remembered for his association with the pop rock and progressive band Indexi, where he performed as the lead singer. Along with the band, Davorin Popović is credited with founding a specific music style known as Sarajevo pop-rock school.

Sejo Sexon is a Bosnian musician, actor, film score composer, and television director. He is best known as the co-founder of the popular rock group Zabranjeno Pušenje, where he also serves as the bandleader. Sejo Sexon is also credited with co-founding the New Primitivism movement in Sarajevo.