From the Lore of the Sweet Land of Cyprus

This high-profile event is the highlight of this year’s Festival with which the Cultural Centre of the University of Cyprus pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. The rationale behind it is quite simple: to honour Cyprus with its most sacred relic, with the most authentic works of art, which its people created over the centuries drawing upon its traditional values and moral principles, and making the best use of the mnemonic technique handed down from generation to generation as part of the oral folklore, a technique developed further by the authentic carriers of Cypriot tradition.

The event is an attempt to bring together a broad circle of distinguished artists and authentic folk poets and singers who will lead us back to the roots, to the deeper layers of the national soul where collective consciousness generates the simple yet so sublime popular art. The highest achievement of this Art are above all the demotic songs of Cyprus but also other folk creations (such as tsiattista and other forms), the traditional music of Cyprus, the Cypriot folk dances and all other customs of the people of Cyprus.

Christos Sikkis and his musicians, Michalis Tterlikkas and the Mousa Music Company, Kyriakou Pelagia, Kyriakou Mouaimi, Michalis Hatzimichael and the Anatoliki Mesogeios Music Ensemble, the Limassol Ethnographic Association with Neophytos Armevtis, the folk poets and singers Andreas Gristakkos and Giannakis Ttikkis, the older generation musicians Giannis Zavros and Dimitris Katsaris, the oldsters who keep the flame of the authentic folk art alive, Michailis Kouloumis and Vyron Georgiou – Vyronis, all of them accompanied by outstanding players, dancers and younger performers will meet at the courtyard of Axiothea to make an essential contribution to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, presenting the exceptional yield of a life full of experiences, creative passion and selfless giving.

At the end of this festive event, viewers and performers will be offered zivania, wine and traditional Cypriot relishes, while the artists will enter into a free dialogue of improvisation and spontaneous poetic and musical interpretation of various themes and motifs representing the trials, tribulations and genuine feelings of the people of Cyprus. Welcoming addresses will be given by the Minister of Education and Culture, Andreas Demetriou, and the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Stavros Zenios.

The performers
Kyriakou Pelagia, Kyriakou Mouaimi, Christos Sikkis, Michalis Tterlikkas, Vyron Georgiou – Vyronis, Neophytos Armevtis

The folk poets
Giannakis Ttikkis and Andreas Gristakkos who will also play Cypriot flute

The musicians
Michailis Kouloumis (Cypriot flute), Giannis Zavros (fiddle, voice), Dimitris Katsaris (fiddle)

Christos Sikkis Music Formation
Kyriakos Giorgallas (santour), Andreas Sikkis (flutes, percussion), Pavlos Hoplaros (fiddle), Panagiotis Nikolaidis (lute)

Mousa Music Company
Kostas Karpasitis (fiddle, voice), Panagiotis Nikolaidis (lute, voice), Nikos Souroullas (tamboutsia, voice)

Anatoliki Mesogeios Music Ensemble
Michalis Hatzimichael (lute, voice), Vassiliki Hatziadamou (voice), Panagiotis Kremmastos (lute, fiddle), Savvas Stefanou (fiddle), Meletis Christodoulou (percussion)

Limassol Ethnographic Association
Neophytos Theodorou (lute), Kyriakos Theodorou (fiddle, voice), Michalis Michaelides (lute), Chrystalla Lympouridi (voice), Makis Chrysostomou (voice)

Limassol Ethnographic Association Dance Group
Coordinator: Konstantinos Protopapas

Opening speeches
Michalis Pieris, Marios Sofroniou