In San Demetrio Corone, known as Shën Mitri, in Calabria, Italy, the 40th edition of the Arbëresh Song Festival will take place.

This festival is among the first and most important initiatives of the Arbëresh of Italy to protect and promote their cultural heritage. It takes place on August 10, 11, 12. The festival of Arbëresh was born as an idea in 1980, as the creator of this event, Giusseppe D’Amico has underlined, the rich musical heritage of Arbëresh that consisted of “verses” (traditional songs) is quite widespread among young people. In this way, the need and desire arose to produce new songs both in terms of theme and rhythms, enriching Arbëresh musicology.

Over the years, this festival has produced hundreds of new songs and promoted new authors and performers in the music market. But at the same time, it has also become the “symbol” and “flag” of Skanderbeg’s descendants, a living and modern community that renews itself in tradition.

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