Ukrainian band from Colombia hits the mainstage at Folklorama’s Ukraine-Kyiv pavilion

The Ukraine-Kyiv Pavilion for this year’s Folklorama has brought in a Ukrainian musical group from Colombia, a group that adds Latin charm to Ukrainian folk songs.

“They have been a super hit with all of the people that have come through our pavilion,” said Yury Kruk the coordinator of the Ukraine-Kyiv Pavilion.

The Ukraine-Kyiv Pavilion has added some Latin American flair to its lineup of performers this year, bringing in a group from South America called Los lankovers.

“We are a Colombian-Venezuelan band, but I have Ukrainian roots because my mother is Ukrainian. So, we have a passion for the traditional music of Latin America and also from Eastern Europe as well,” explained Lanko Penafort, the lead singer of Los lankovers.

“We just perform the Ukrainian music but with our Latin instruments, like the Charango, or the South American native flutes, or the Latin percussion and it gives the flavour.”

The group has travelled around the world, spending the last year touring Europe, including performing in Ukraine.

“We were the only foreign band to perform in Ukraine during the war. A few more have come now, but it was also great to raise some funds for the Ukrainian army. All the concerts we do, some part of our income, we provide to support Ukraine,” said Nina Karnaukh, the band manager of Los lankovers.

Karnaukh says it’s important for the band to continue spreading Ukrainian culture.

“Our goal is to help Ukrainians preserve it and also to remind Ukrainians around the world on how beautiful their own language and their own music,” said Karnaukh.

Pavilion Coordinator Yury Kruk says this is the first time the pavilion has reached out and brought in a group from outside Canada.

“When you come into our pavilion, you’re going to experience some fabulous food, and on top of this, you’re going to experience this Latin, Columbian fusion of Ukrainian music that many of us have never heard, which is very unique,” said Kruk.

The group is having a show in Winnipeg on Sunday August 18 at Winnipeg’s Ukrainian Canadian Institute Prosvita.