The 43rd Arbëresh Song Festival took place in the Arbëresh community of San Demetrio Corone, Province of Cosenza. This event is the year’s most important competition among Arbëresh artists.

The Center for Arbëresh Studies and Publications announced Ernesto Iannuzzi, a singer-songwriter from Firmo, as the festival winner. He performed “Ruam mbrënda” before a large audience in San Adriano. The song, with lyrics by Iannuzzi and musical arrangements by Alessandro Paloli, earned him the grand prize and €3,000.

Francesca Manoccio from Acquaformosa took second place with her song “Ajde Ajde / Eja Eja,” winning €2,000. Clarissa De Santo from Caraffa placed third with “Thuam he më mban mend / Më thuaj se ende mendon për mua,” written by Luigi Gregorio Comi and composed by the singer herself, winning €1,000.

A technical jury also awarded the Critics’ Prize to Giuseppe Basile di Plataci for “Fljutura” (Farfalla) and Best Song to Marco Sabato for “U ngreva me hare.”

The festival featured 16 singers from Arbëresh villages in Calabria, other regions, and Albania.

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