Songs of Freedom Echo from Kyiv to the National Mall
On a summer day in Washington, D.C., Ukrainian musicians brought centuries-old traditions to the heart of American heritage. Their visit to the American Folklife Center wasn’t just a cultural exchange—it was a living archive in motion.
The delegation explored rare recordings of kobzars, the legendary traveling bards whose voices survived Stalinist purges thanks to early 20th-century cylinders. These haunting songs, once nearly silenced, now resound in the Library of Congress, bridging continents and generations.
At the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ukrainian performers shared the stage with images of their homeland’s wild landscapes, their music underscoring a message of resilience and hope. The program, inspired by philosopher Hryhoriy Skovoroda’s call for liberty, gained new urgency as Ukraine faces war.
Workshops, concerts, and heartfelt gifts of Ukrainian art deepened the connection, reminding all that culture endures even in the hardest times. When music travels, it carries freedom with it—sometimes farther than borders allow.
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