Ruslana Lotsman on Ukrainian cultural diplomacy in Brazil

by Ruslana Lotsman, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor at Ukraine’s National Pedagogical Drahomanov University

Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion, I received an invitation to attend the annual Ukrainian Culture Festival hosted by our community in Paraná, Brazil.

I first met Vitório Sorotiuk, President of the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation (UBCR), during a phone call and later in person when he and his wife, Eliana, visited Kyiv. I was immediately struck by this wonderful couple, whose relationship radiated respect, harmony, and mutual support. I felt this warmth in their home, where they welcomed me as if I were family. Everything in their house was connected to Ukraine: a beautifully embroidered tablecloth adorned the dining table, walls were decorated with Cossack-themed paintings, and shelves in the living room held books about Ukrainian history and traditions, poetry by renowned Ukrainian writers, clay dishes, pysanky (decorated eggs), and numerous Ukrainian souvenirs gifted by friends and visitors to the Sorotiuk home. All the artists who had previously come to the Ukrainian festival in Brazil had stayed there, and now I was settling in for my two-week stay. The main purpose of the trip was to attend this year’s festival, which celebrated the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence and the Day of the Ukrainian Community in Brazil, recognized as a national holiday at the state level. It’s no surprise, given that more than 600,000 people of Ukrainian descent reside here. We organized a series of concerts in Curitiba, Prudente de Morais, Paulo Frontin (Paraná), and Papanduva (Santa Catarina). In addition to the scheduled events, we met with folk choirs, dance groups, bandura players, school students, pysanka artisans, and teachers of Ukrainian language and song. For those who have yet to visit Brazil and are reading this account, I will attempt to provide a musical journey, as the majesty of the Ukrainian Song called me to this distant land to unite Ukrainians from around the world.

First stop: Curitiba

Here, we visited the Ukrainian Memorial, the Ukrainian community of Brazil, the Lesia Ukrainka Ukrainian School, the Poltava Club, and UBCR’s main office. We met with the parliamentary delegation of the state of Paraná, where we found influential politicians with distinctly Ukrainian surnames. We sang Hutsul kolomyikas for parliament member Marta Huculak and invited distinguished guests to the Ukrainian Day festival, which began on Aug. 23 in Curitiba. On the same day, we met with the President of the Ukrainian Society in Brazil, Philip Oryshchyn. The Society has been around since 1922 and encompasses the Lesia Ukrainka Ukrainian Saturday School, as well as the Barvinok dance and choir ensembles. Oryshchyn also leads the Barvinok choir, which has been promoting Ukrainian singing traditions in Brazil for 94 years.

We performed with the Barvinok choir on the stage of the Sesc da Esquina Theatre, where we officially opened the concert in honor of Ukraine’s State Flag Day. The event was attended by ambassadors from various countries and members of parliament, who watched a video presentation accompanying my songs about the modern struggle: frontline clips of “Combat Marusia,” a patriotic piece with the Armed Forces of Ukraine ensemble titled “Ukraine Will Win!” and a family lullaby-prayer, “Let the War End.” Of course, I also sang folk songs that the audience joined in on, as their ancestors brought not only wheat to Brazil but also the songs and culture of their heritage. By the way, the agricultural traditions of Brazil will be our next focus.

Stop two: The ancient Morretes forests

Vitório Sorotiuk, also known as Viktor Ivanovych, is how I addressed him, in line with the Ukrainian custom of addressing individuals by their first names after they come of age. Today, my driver and conversational partner, who is in his 80s, is quite active, energetic, and eager to show me, a guest from the homeland, the best of the Morretes forests. As we drive, we listen to Brazilian songs with commentary and translations about their meanings and performers. I choose one of the songs, and we start learning it together so that I can sing it at the concert, not only showcasing our Ukrainian songs but also showing respect for the hosts of this land. I brought home a USB drive filled with Brazilian songs as a cherished souvenir. Viktor Ivanovych and his wife share stories along the way, pointing out the villages and towns where their relatives and acquaintances live – all of Ukrainian descent.

We stop to enjoy some sugar cane juice and taste banana candies. The journey is quite long, but we soon arrive at the spot where, 133 years ago, the first Ukrainian set foot on this land. Here, palm trees and bamboo grow in the forest, and a little stream runs alongside, reminiscent of the Carpathian Mountains.

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