Kočani Orkestar


Kočani orkestar is a Macedonian Romani brass band from Kočani, North Macedonia led till 2000 by Naat Veliov. Kočani orkestar are a direct descendant of the music once played by Turkish army bands. Their music is based on Romani music from various parts of the Balkans and on Turkish rhythms, with a sprinkle of Latin flavour.

Borat lawsuit

The Kočani Orkestar song "Siki, siki baba", from the album Alone At My Wedding, is featured on the soundtrack for the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan although it has no connection to the Music of Kazakhstan. Together with the Romani singer Esma Redžepova, who claimed that her song "Chaje Šukarije" had been used without authorization, Naat Veliov filed a lawsuit for the producers of the movie for an unauthorised use of the song. Despite Redžepova demanding €800,000 in compensation from the producers of the film, she only received a €26,000 compensation, as her producers had authorized the song's use in the film without notifying her.

Discography

;Albums
;Contributing artist