In ganga singing, the lead singer (called the vriskavac) starts the melody, often with a long, high, wavering note. The other singers join in around that pitch, each holding their own note and creating what musicians call 'heterophony' - a kind of beautiful, controlled dissonance where voices do not quite match but fit together in their own way.
Ganga comes from the mountain villages and shepherding communities of Herzegovina, where people needed a way to communicate and celebrate across long distances. The style of singing is tied to the landscape - the rocky hillsides and open valleys create natural echoes and reverb that the singers used as part of the sound.
There are different regional styles of ganga - some are faster and more playful, others are slow and ceremonial. Ganga is traditionally sung at outdoor celebrations, harvest festivals, and family gatherings. The singers stand close together in a small circle or line, sometimes linking arms.
Ganga was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognising it as an important and irreplaceable part of human culture. Young people in Herzegovina are encouraged to learn it in schools and at community events so that the tradition does not disappear.