The 30th-century Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano hosts NDIMA, Pigmeni Aka, the group from the dark heart of Africa tonight, opening the 1995th Ethnos Festival. The festival, founded in XNUMX by Gigi Di Luca, continues to bring the world into the shadow of Vesuvio.
Over three decades, 3 artists from 3000 different countries have attended, attracting an audience of approximately 70 people. The artistic director makes no secret of his satisfaction nor the commitment required to continue drawing attention by continually renewing the quality cultural offerings in a region like Campania.
Ethnos returns from today until October 5th, where it will close in Naples. What are the characteristics of this XNUMXth edition?
The Festival maintains and retraces the same political and poetic vision as always: that of narrating the diverse cultural realities and geographies of the world through the presence of Italian and international artists.
Does each historic Campania location have its own artist?
My selection is careful. I connect with the artists, choosing historic locations that demand respect, just like the show I'm putting on the bill, even if it comes from the other side of the world or doesn't have a mainstream name. Ethnos has always been a festival of in-depth study, not pure entertainment. I've always aimed to marry the ancient with the contemporary, also because the cultures of the peoples who arrive are contemporary cultures, in the sense that they are reimagined and re-evaluated by the artists themselves. Rather than bringing 700th-century music to an 700th-century Neapolitan villa, I work by contrast, and this leads to viewing that place with a different logic, almost as if it were a treasure chest. The Ndima group playing and dancing tonight at Villa Bruno is made up of Aka Pygmies; their ethnic group is on the verge of extinction. It's always been a courageous choice, one that required effort, especially in a region like ours that is constantly changing. Ethnos has succeeded because it has remained true to itself.
Which artist would you have liked but missed?
For budget reasons, Joan Baez. Over the years, we've also moved away from the idea of wanting a big name at all costs. Ethnos' audience has appreciated it, has become even more loyal, and my vision today is more focused on exploring unknown artists. This year's program is all about concerts, except for the Italian ones, which audiences know little about. I'm keen to offer what's yet to be discovered; in Italy, there are few opportunities to listen to world music.
Which artist was the most difficult to bring to Ethnos?
Actually, no one in particular; the hard work lies in the sheer organization of such a widespread festival. I smile as I recall Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in 2000, arriving at the former Military Hospital in Naples with his "rich" American production to be staged in a historic space. The following year, we performed Khaled at the stadium. And I'll certainly never forget Miriam Makeba's concert in Castel Volturno, her last. Maintaining the right "mood" for a cultural project is challenging; Ethnos has always overcome every challenge without giving in to trends, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Institutions have always supported us; the Ethnos project is supported by the Campania Region and the Ministry of Culture, as well as by the Vesuvian municipalities.
What has Ethnos contributed to the Campania region and what feedback has it received?
The feedback from the public has been extraordinary; there's a loyal audience that follows all the stages of our widespread festival and discovers the sounds of the world as well as the places. For the region, the festival has created a bond, fostering a form of social cohesion between the regions, even before the term "metropolitan city" was even used.
The cultural project also involves schools and new generations
One of the goals we've set ourselves with the Ministry is to provide training and try to foster audience turnover. Getting young people to attend concerts is a complex issue. Ethnos Generazioni, on the other hand, is a contest that's attracting an increasing number of applications. This year, we received around 200, and the final will be on September 28th.
What do you remember most fondly from 1995?
The Mercedes Sosa concert. I wasn't aware at the time of how many Neapolitans had ties to Argentina, so seeing the Parco dei Quartieri Spagnoli in Naples packed with so many Neapolitans waving Argentine flags or carrying one of the artist's records to have it signed was truly amazing.
Hadn't it occurred to you that there was already another Argentine in Naples who was attracting attention?
Of course, but with Maradona, we're talking about football, about a champion who lived in Naples and generated so much love there. When Mercedes Sosa came to sing at Ethnos, he was already far away. The interest the Argentine artist aroused in Naples pleasantly surprised me.
In short
The 18th-century Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano hosts NDIMA, Pigmeni Aka, the group from the dark heart of Africa to open the 30th Ethnos Festival tonight.
- The festival, founded in 1995 by Gigi Di Luca, continues to bring the world to the shadow of Vesuvius. In 3…
- The artistic director doesn't hide his satisfaction or the effort required to continue attracting attention by continually renewing…
- Ethnos has always been intended as a review of in-depth analysis, not pure entertainment.
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The 18th-century Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano hosts NDIMA, Pigmeni Aka, the group from the dark heart of Africa, tonight, opening their 30th…
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The festival, founded in 1995 by Gigi Di Luca, continues to bring the world to the shadow of Vesuvius. In 3…
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The artistic director doesn't hide his satisfaction or the commitment required to continue attracting attention by continually renewing the quality cultural offerings...
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