MURALS HONOURING BANJA LUKA’S LEGENDS ALONG THE VRBAS RIVER

A mural dedicated to Milenko Jeftić, known as Jefto, has been painted on the banks of the Vrbas River, opposite Kastel Fortress in Banja Luka, preserving the memory of one of the most recognisable and unusual figures in the history of the largest city in the Republic of Srpska.

PHOTO: Vedran Ševčuk / Blink

Jefto was widely known for his unique habit of swimming in the icy waters of the Vrbas during winter, even in the harshest cold and snow, beneath the walls of Kastel Fortress. This unusual tradition became part of Banja Luka’s identity, earning him the status of a living legend among local residents.

A TRADITION THAT LASTED MORE THAN FIVE DECADES

Jefto began his winter swimming tradition back in 1961, inspired by the news that Ivo Andrić had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. For more than five decades, he remained faithful to his unusual ritual, defying the cold and demonstrating an extraordinary bond with the river that has shaped life in Banja Luka.

For many residents, Jefto symbolised remarkable physical endurance, strong will and an unbreakable spirit. He was also remembered as a man whose love for the Vrbas went far beyond ordinary habits, making his winter swims an enduring part of the city’s local heritage.

MURALS PRESERVE THE MEMORY OF LOCAL LEGENDS

Next to Jefto’s mural is another dedicated to the legendary Čika Ali, another well-known figure in Banja Luka’s local history.

Together, these murals highlight the fact that a city’s identity is shaped not only by its buildings, monuments and landmarks, but also by the people whose life stories have become part of its collective memory.

Along the banks of the Vrbas, these portraits offer a tribute to two distinctive figures whose stories remain woven into the character and traditions of Banja Luka.