Debate and concert happening and charity event in support of student protests in Serbia. KOIKOI, TooT Ensemble, MMNK.

Curious about what’s happening in Serbia right now, and have a soft spot for Balkan influences in music?

The essence of the “Lajf Aid 4 Srbija” debate and concert happenings is above all to raise awareness and provide information about the local situation in Serbia, to present sets by artists who are connected to the Balkans either by origin or repertoire, and to express support for the student protests.

The first event took place on February 18, 2025, at Kampus Hybernská in Prague, supported by the SIMS – Student Self-Government of IMS team. A wide range of artists performed (Nicholas Roy Arthofer, Mário Bihári, Mario Šeparović, Markéta Zdeňková & Džezvica), and there was also a debate with journalist Magdaléna Fajtová, who has long specialized in the former Yugoslavia region and has been regularly reporting on the protests.

On August 21, 2025, Čítárna Unijazz in Prague hosted “Lajf Aid 4 Srbija #2,” which gathered an even larger number of experts. We discussed the current situation with Veronika Němcová (Otvorená Kultúra!), Katarina Vojnović (ex-Al Jazeera Balkans), Mladen Savatović (N1), and Tobiáš Wágner (ex-Revue Prostor). Artists included Nicholas Roy Arthofer, Miloš Kunc, Der Šenster Gob, and Yamaha Oriental.

On October 6, 2025, the Serbian rock band Koikoi—currently one of the most exciting names on the alternative Serbian scene—will perform. Also joining the evening will be the large Czech collective TooT Ensemble, whose core includes several jazz-trained musicians but who here create more of an epic Balkan party show, along with Brno-based MMNK. Before the concerts, there will be a debate with Marko Grabež, frontman and singer of Koikoi and also a respected young actor, who will provide insights into the state of alternative culture and regime repression of artists.

Who are we helping?

Since November 2024, student protests have been taking place in Serbia, joined by a significant part of the broader public. Since then, a series of mostly silent vigils has been held to commemorate the victims of the Novi Sad railway station collapse. Beyond Belgrade, Serbian students have voiced their dissatisfaction with massive state corruption in other cities and abroad. They have been very creative: this spring they cycled from Novi Sad to Strasbourg, followed by a relay run to Brussels, with the aim of reaching European institutions (especially the European Parliament), appealing for moral support.

Peaceful vigils have been dispersed with, for example, sonic cannons, and currently massive street clashes are taking place between demonstrators, police, criminal groups, and special units. That is why debates with experts are a regular part of “Lajf Aid 4 Srbija,” in order to provide the wider public with high-quality information about the situation. The event is supported, among others, by organizations such as Nadšením Nájem Nezaplatíš and Otvorená Kultura.

A fundraising campaign is also being launched on Donio.cz

Event is organised by Dan Sywala