Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra and their folk-hip hop anthem, for their war-torn nation, won the Song Festival of Eurovision 2022, an event designed to celebrate diversity and promote friendship between nations .
This year there were twenty-five competitors in the grand finale of the songwriting contest that takes place annually in the industrial city of Turin, in northern Italy. Last year, 183 millions of people tuned in to the televised competition.
To the Ukrainian community in Italy, Kalush Orchestra’s participation in such a popular international event highlights its culture and provides a platform to keep world attention focused on the Russian invasion and the war in Ukraine.
This is the third time that Ukraine has obtained the crystal microphone of Eurovision, this year it was thanks to its interpretation of the motherland.
One of the most emotional moments during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest held this 14 May 2022, It happened when the vocalist of the band Kalush Orchestra launched a cry for help for his country, the city of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel mill that are in the middle of the Russian invasion.
“Please help Ukraine, please help Mariupol, please help Azovstal right now ( please help Ukraine, help Mariupol, help Azovstal now)”, shouted Psiuk, leader of the Ukrainian rap group at the end of their performance.