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Montenegro |
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Crna Gora, Црна Гора |
Location, political and cultural history
In common with most of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro was for several centuries part of the Ottoman Empire and thus subject to Islamic influences. However, the Ottoman rule was never total; Montenegro maintained a degree of independence not accorded to other states conquered by the Turks. This difference remains evident today. The Sunni Muslim population comprises about 17% of the total and is mainly concentrated in two distinct areas: One cluster is to be found between the port city of Bar and the Albanian border, the other close to the border with Kosovo. The majority belief is Orthodox Christian.
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The left-hand map shows Montenegro in relation to other fragments of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. To identify the other fragments, please visit our Yugoslavia index page.
The right-hand map shows the current boundaries of Montenegro itself. |
From 1992 to 2006, a federation existed between Serbia and Montenegro called the “Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”. During that time, Montenegro sided with Serbia in all three regional conflicts - The Croatian, Bosnian and Kosovo wars.
The federation broke up in 2006 when a referendum in Montenegro returned a 55½ % majority in favour of Montenegrin independence. Serbia accepted the result and no conflict ensued. Use of the name Yugoslavia thus ceased throughout the Balkan region.
Most citizens speak the Iyekavian dialect of the Serbian language. However, as of 2004 moves for an independent Montenegrin language were promoted and with the new 2007 Constitution it became Montenegro’s prime official language. Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian are recognised in common usage. As in Serbia, the written form can be in either the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet.
Circumcision in Montenegro
In line with the rest of the former Yugoslavia, circumcision is perceived in Montenegro to be a “Badge of Islam”. Our correspondent writes:
Traveller’s Tales...
There is an Albanian majority in the southeastern part of Montenegro/Crna Gora, the region bordering Albania around the small town of Ulcinj/Ulquin. This population is mostly non-practicing Muslim (we used the 7 PM muezzin call to decide it was time for apero with local white wine), but they sure practice circumcision at around 7 years of age! - Peter.
Acknowledgements
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