Date: September 29, 2017

Venue: Kherson

Organizer: KYRS

Project description: On September 29, Kherson hosted the opening of the “Friendship of Peoples” festival, organized by the Kherson City Association of Young Roma in cooperation with the Kherson Regional Philharmonic and the Roma Council of Ukraine. The event was an important contribution to the preservation of intercultural dialogue and honoring historical memory.

Festival program: The grand opening was opened with a performance by the Roma ensemble “Bakhtale” (Mykolaiv), which symbolizes joy and happiness. The group enchanted the guests with deep vocal and instrumental compositions of Roma culture. The first part of the concert was dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Roma Holocaust and the Babyn Yar tragedy. The second part featured songs, romances and dance compositions from the pearls of Roma art.

Historical context: The date of September 29 was not chosen by chance: on this day, Ukraine and the Roma community commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. The tragedy in Babyn Yar was especially mentioned, where thousands of Roma were killed along with Jews.

The significance of the project: The “Friendship of Nations” festival has become an important initiative of our organization to promote Roma culture, commemorate the victims of the tragedy and build bridges between national communities. The Kherson City Association of Young Roma will continue to initiate events that promote intercultural dialogue and social unity.