About us

Folk Ensemble “Bozhychi”

was founded on January 7, 1999.

The name of the group “Bozhychi” has 2 versions of origin. First is that it comes from the name of the pre-Christian God, which the Slavs called “Bozhycha”, who was the god of youth and carol. The second is that the participants are “children of God”, because in Ukrainian “Bog” (“Бог”) is “God”.

The ensemble performs authentic, ancient songs and dance-instrumental traditions, parts of which were preserved in the villages and farms of Ukraine, all of which are dying off with catastrophic speed. The main direction of activity of the ensemble- the scientific study of the Ukrainian village and the method of recording authentic folklore samples. The main focus over the past four years has been collection trips made on canoe expeditions along the rivers of Ukraine.For the right to receive nationally funded, organizational help for the activities of young folklorists of Ukraine, members of the ensemble started the initial creation of “The All Ukrainian Association of Young Ethnomusicologists.” The ensemble actively works in association with the Ukrainian Parliament in the areas of youth politics, physical education, sports and tourism, in the name of the State Committee, and the Ministry of Ukrainian Transport.

Ensemble “Bozhychi” has participated in the

all Ukrainian folklore festival “Svitovyd” (Kyiv, 2000),
international festival “Autumn Jazz Marathon- 2000”,
international festival “Pokut- 2000” (Kharkiv, Ukraine), international art festival “Berezillya” (Kyiv, 2001),
international festival "Sodruzchestvo"(Russia, 2003),
international folk festival of Oleg Skripka “Dreamland” (Kyiv, 2005, 2007),
international Folk Festival in Sheshory (Ukraine, 2005),
international folk festival "Spotkanie folkowe" (Poland, 2005)
international festival “Slavianskiy Bazar” (Vitebsk, Belorus, 2005)
the international folklore festival "Sheshory-2006",
the international art festival in Klaipeda, Lithuania-2006
international festival of ukrainian culture "Sopot-2008" (Poland)
international folk festival "Baltica-2009" (Latvia)
“Bozhychi” takes part in international tours and stage performances in Kyiv and Ukraine, as well as performing on television and radio.

Discography contains 5 audio albums, 1 DVD book on Ukrainian traditional dances with CD (2 in 1):
- The first album - " Rolled, oh, the clear star from the sky " - contains ancient Ukrainian songs and playing. Oleg Skripka took part in record of this album (" The Ukrainian sufferings ") and acted as its producer.
- The second album - "Koljadnitsky songs. From Kyiv to Jerusalem" - consists pagan and Christian songs of winter holidays – Kolyada (Christmas carols), Shedrivki and New year songs.
- The third album gathered the best Ukrainian songs about Love and dances of traditional Ukrainian parties.
- 4th album – Ukrainian traditional dances, recorded together with famous violin musician Serhiy Okhrimchuk.
- DVD is a book on Ukrainian traditional dances with CD (2 in 1).
- 5th album is called “Psal’mas. Pomyshliayte, CHelovetsy”. It represents Ukrainian sacred world music.

In May 2002 in an associated project with the Center for Modern Art “Dakh,” Bozhychi performed their theater piece “U Poshukakh Vtrachenoho Chasu” (In Search of Lost Time) at the “Wienner Festwochen” festival in Vienna, Austria. At this festival, “Bozhychi-Dakh” received the theater grand prize “Pektoral 2001” for the best chamber theater piece, and as well the grand prize from the theater critics of “Kyivan Rakhunok” for the best theater piece of the year. In July 2003 Bozhychi performed their theater piece in Hungary, on theater festival in Capolch.
In 2005 the Group created own Theatre Perfomance “Life Circle”, founded on Ukrainian traditions, songs and dances.

Now the ensemble plays in a theater performance “Az” directed by Andriy Prykhodko.

Ensemble "Bozhychi" can create unforgettable atmosphere of a national holiday in your house, office or in the open air:
- To arrange a party in folk style where you will be not the observer, but also the participant, you will be able to learn national games and dances, to take participation in national customs and rituals.
- To organize the real Ukrainian wedding that will be pleasant differ from a banal city variant of this family holiday.
- To greet you with Happy New Year and Christmas traditional Ukrainian songs shchedrivkas, koliadkas.
- To decorate your presentations with cheerful and beautiful authentic songs, instrumental playing which become exotic in comparison with your imagining of the Ukrainian folk.
- To be extraordinary and high qualified band at any concert or festival.

We have performed for the political, social and business leaders of Ukrainian market: Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Index Bank, Bank “Finacial Initiative”, MetInvest, Khortytsya TM, Kraft Foods Ukraine, Eurovision, Hipp Ukraine, Ukrainian Railway, company "Dinay", the company "Lukoil-Ukraine", building company "MTD ", "Siemens", "Laktalis- Ukraine", art agencies "Tavrijski games", "Pearls of a Season", "Initia", "Art Veles", "ArtMaksima", the State tax inspection in Kyiv, Kyiv Archdiocese UOC MP, the Ministry of culture and arts, the Ministry of work and social policy, TV channels ICTV, "1+1", "M1","Kiev", "The New Channel", TRC "Era", "Nashe radio", restaurant " Partisan", the Art-gallery "Karas". Composer Alexander Zlotnik, PII " MBL International East Computer Land Kiev ", Lion's Club and many others.

Ensemble members:
Leaders of Ensemble - Illya Fetisov and Susanna Karpenko,
Маria Kudriavtseva, Iryna Borysenko, Hanna Arhipchuk, Valery Gladunets, Olga Karapata.

Worldwide booking and promotion
Ms. Armine Habrielyan
e-mails: bozhychi@yahoo.com, bozhychi@gmail.com
tel.: +38 067 406 5617, +38 044 3602760