North Macedonia museum director resigns over "Sexy Mama" video

Miha Odzhaklieski, the director of North Macedonia's Krushevo Museum of History, resigned over renting the Makedonium, an officially protected national cultural heritage site, to the Kosovo rapper Don Xhoni for the filming of his video "Sexy Mama."

Public outrage erupted after reports revealed Odzhaklieski had rented out the national monument to the rapper for EUR 500. Footage showed Don Xhoni dancing and performing the track inside the memorial space, CE Report quotes MIA.

In his letter of resignation, Odzaklieski said that what he did was not illegal and it was an established practice.

However, he said, the rental of the Makedonium for the video shoot was "an unintentional oversight" and he felt it was his moral duty to step down.

"Its reputation and public trust are greater than any office and any individual who temporarily holds that office," Odzhaklieski wrote.

Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he would request the Krushevo Museum director and board members be dismissed for allowing the Makedonium to be rented to the rapper.

"Such institutions should not be rented and used for such purposes," Mickoski said. "I apologize to the citizens for the oversight. We will try to prevent anything like this from happening again."

Minister of Culture and Tourism Sedat Sulejmani said directors of public institutions should make sure they know how the spaces will be used before they approve any rental agreements.

"They should know what programs will take place there," Sulejmani said.

The Makedonium, a masterwork of futuristic brutalist architecture, was designed by Jordan Grabuloski and Iskra Grabuloska. The stained glass elements inside the dome are the work of Borko Lazeski and the surrounding amphitheater features a mosaic tile wall by Petar Mazev.

The memorial complex opened on Aug. 2, 1974. A deeply revered historical site, it houses the grave of Ilinden Uprising leader, Krushevo Republic president and national hero Nikola Karev.

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