Azis: "They forgave me for being gay and Roma due to my voice“

DW (English)

Despite being openly gay in one of the most conservative parts of Europe, folk-pop singer of Romani origin, Azis became a superstar, not only in his native country Bulgaria, but also around Southeast Europe and the Balkans. "They forgave me for being gay and Roma due to my voice", he told DW.

Transcript

00:00Whether in his native Bulgaria or at this concert in Belgrade, Serbia, Aziz, a Romani

00:13ethnic and an openly gay singer, is a superstar, cheered on by millions of fans.

00:19But how did he make it in a society where sexual and ethnic minorities are still widely

00:25discriminated against?

00:28Nature is a gift, but definitely my heights touch me, and my feeling for what a person

00:38likes, what he can dance to and what he can cry to.

00:43Vasil Bojanov, Aziz's real name, was born in a women's prison in 1978.

00:49But his rough start in life and people's prejudice against Roma haven't stopped him from following

00:55his dream.

00:56They don't see gypsies in us, they see the people who sang the best songs.

01:01And Aziz's songs have got millions of views on social media, despite this music genre

01:07with oriental influences, called Calga in Bulgaria or Turbofolk in Serbia, being largely

01:14criticized for its explicit lyrics and eccentric videos.

01:18Back in Bulgaria, studio shooting for the official video of a new song.

01:28Aziz opened up about his sexuality early in his career.

01:32Since then, he has been advocating for sexual and ethnic minorities.

01:49And still, he's everywhere.

01:52On TV shows, on the internet and on big stages at home and abroad.

01:57During a break from shooting the new video, Aziz remembers the words of his grandmother.

02:09But for Aziz, fame is not enough.

02:12He wishes he lived in a more open society, where people are not judged based on ethnicity

02:18or sexual identity.

02:43In the meantime, the new video has been released.

03:08Over two million views within just a few days.

03:11Through his music, Aziz hopes to prove again and again that being Roma and non-binary

03:18doesn't have to be an obstacle to success.

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Transcript

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