The First Folklore Festival took place for the first time yesterday in Selenica. Dozens of folk artists of various ages took to the stage, authentically bringing elements of folklore and polyphony from 10 participating groups. The groups from Sevasteri, Vajza, Velça, Gjormi, Kota, Drashovica, Armenia, Lubonja, Koculi transformed the festival into a manifestation of popular culture with voices and a variety of costumes, where polyphony stood out like a gem.

The municipality, as one of the organizers of this festival will  this important cultural event as an important part of cultural and touristic activities, adding a lot to the values of the area and preserving the rich cultural tradition.

“This is a festival that has been organized for the first time in the municipality of Selenica with the participation of groups that are under the jurisdiction of this municipality. We have put the emphasis on folk groups of villages”, said the mayor of Selenica.

The fruitful cooperation of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage of Vlora with the municipality of Selenica brought the great success of this festival. For this institution, Selenica preserves and inherits unique values of this heritage, so this festival will be an institution that will evidence and preserve this value.

The surprise of the festival, in addition to the local folklore group, was the participation of a small ensemble from the city of Inegol, Turkey, of an early Albanian origin from Komunava, and which led the audience to ovations.

 This Festival, which marked its first edition this year, will be an annual celebration of the flag and aims to preserve and revive the rich folk culture of Selenica, as an important part of our national culture.

/k.s/