Folk Canoe Expedition

The first folkloric canoe expeditions were organized in the 1970s by Yevhen Yefremov and Viktor Moskalenko, musicologists and teachers of Kyiv Conservatory of Music.
For more than 10 years the canoe expeditions led by Bozhychi’s chief Illya Fetysov were organized to 11 rivers of Ukraine (Desna, Psel, Ros, Vovcha, Samarya, Vorskla etc.) and included 10 oblasts (Kyiv, Poltava, Sum, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk etc.). More than 200 people from all over Ukraine had participated at the expeditions.
The 2001 expedition along the Vorskla River in Poltava Oblast from Kyrikovky to Kobelyak was unusually picturesque and romantic. Unusually beautiful regions inspired young folklorists in fruitful work. Each year the summer expeditions were a pleasant means for a one-time meaningful vacation, ones own means for sustenance.
The 2002 expedition was conducted along the Psel River, a second time, although this time the northern-most reaches- from the Russian border to the South, to Poltava Oblast.
Expedition of 2003, on the river Orel' of the Dnepropetrovsk area was spent by “The All Ukrainian Association of Young Ethnomusicologists” on the means, given by the Ministry of culture of Ukraine. Members of branches have taken part in it from different regions of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, each year more and more quick old Ukrainian culture is disappearing, as the few living, priceless carriers are passing away. While the possibility still exists, let’s preserve our culture!

If you would like to test your strength on the next canoe expedition, please write to us at vamdf@yahoo.com