Borche Naumovski posts old Australia photos and recalls 2009 return to Bitola

Borche Naumovski — long known for his tailored suits and the nickname "Minister of Estrada" — surprised fans by posting a set of archival photos taken almost two decades ago at the "Sun and Moon" restaurant in Australia, where he lived and regularly performed.

The images show Naumovski alongside fellow Balkan stars Goca Bozinovska and Sanja Maletic, and stirred memories of late-night shows and gatherings from that period of his career.

Naumovski has remained a popular figure on the Macedonian stage for decades and keeps his private life largely out of the public eye, rarely sharing everyday snapshots on social media. This release of older pictures was therefore an unusual exception that quickly attracted attention from fans and colleagues.

Return to Bitola and the reasoning behind it

Those photos come from a chapter when Naumovski enjoyed a busy and successful career in the diaspora, with a packed schedule of performances, parties, cruises and concerts. Born in Australia, he shocked many by deciding in 2009 to leave Sydney after 7.5 years there and move with his family back to his beloved Bitola.

Explaining his choice on a television appearance, he said: "I wanted my children to grow up in Macedonia!"

He later expanded on that decision: "Many people thought I was crazy for returning during the worst crisis. But when I decide something, nothing can change my mind. I thought that I wanted the children to grow up here in Macedonia, to receive our culture, and when they grow up they can decide where they want to live."

The recent photo release followed Naumovski's most recent TV appearance on Vezilka, where he appeared coordinated in a black-and-white outfit with presenter Irena Spirovska and the show's co-host Spasen Siljanoski. For fans, the throwback images were a reminder of both his long career abroad and his decision to settle back home.

Photo: press material from the event