06.10.2008 Song contest for minority languages

In the middle of October, in the Swedish town of Luleå, the Liet Lavlut culture festival will take place, with a four-day programme including a song contest for minority languages. It is organised by Sweblul, the Swedish branch of the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.

Festival visitors will be able to listen to songs in languages such as Asturian (spoken in the north of Spain) and Corsican. Nine other contenders will compete, such as a Welsh reggae formation called Yr Annioddefol, a rap formation singing in Friulian (spoken in the north of Italy and parts of Croatia), and Dutch contender Jelte Posthumus and his band Pilatus Pas, singing in Frisian.

On 17 October, the Council of Europe hosts a conference in Luleå, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Topics to be discussed include the current status of minority and regional languages and the role they can play in regional cultural development. For the complete article, click here. For more information on the conference, click here.