Literature party: Sweden – Belarus

Belarusian and Swedish writers presented their works at a stage of a Minsk Palace which hosted a literature competition and joint singing of Swedes and Belarusians.

Several dozens guests came to a literature party, including the Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Swedish Embassy in Belarus Stephan Eriksson, a writer Volha Ipatava, a philosopher Valentin Akudovich, Swedish writers Sila Nauman, Solia Krapu, Ida Boerel, a translator from Polish and French languages into Swedish Andesh Budegord and others. Viktar Shalkevich was a presenter at the party.

The performance was organized in an unusual way: poets and writers were presenting extras from their works and comic competitions and joint singing were held as well.

Stephan Eriksson was the first to sing on stage.

Then poet Vladimir Niakliayev was invited to the stage and he sang together with the Swedish Ambassador in Swedish, accompanied by Viktar Shalkevich.

“It is important there is interest in Belarusian poetry, that it is being translated into Swedish”

Swedish writers also sang a couple of songs in Belarusian following a proposal of the presenter.

Volha Ipatava said that literature amateurs benefited from the parties of this kind.

“It is important for me that there is interest in Belarusian poesy and that it is being translated into Swedish. It is hard for us to meet each other nowadays. You know, there used to be a magazine “Foreign Literature”, where quite a few pieces were translated and published. Today there is nothing of such kind. I understand the responsibility of the local librarians face… In the past there was an attitude that ‘foreign’ was always ‘not safe’. Regardless of the fact that the Soviet times are gone, the situation remains the same…

Someone said jokingly that if ‘proper’ writers were taking part in the party, the party would be publicly advertised, promoted and reported by the Media – TV and newspapers. It is very much appreciated that Swedes work with Belarusian writers based on their professionalism and regardless of their political motivation”.

On 23 May literature parties will take place in Lininets and on 24 May in Baranovichi.

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