Celebrating the Legacy of Stus: Odesa's Cultural Tribute

On January 6, Odesa joined the nationwide festival «STUSing Together» — a live tribute to the poet who remained free even in chains.

The event's founder, military man and musician Igor Dvygalo, conducted organizational meetings directly from a dugout — a symbol of the fact that culture knows no barriers.

This year, cities like Odesa, Lviv, Dnipro, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Kamianets, and others joined Kyiv in this celebration.

The festivities in Odesa took place at the More Music Club. It was an eclectic musical and poetic performance that showcased Stus as a rebellious artist, relevant even today.

The evening began with electronic music, under which an 11-year-old boy recited a poem by Stus, — the voice of the sixties poet resonated as the voice of a new generation.

The program included a musical stand-up from the independent Kyiv theater «Between Three Columns», as well as mini-sets from Odesa bands in various genres — from electronic to industrial metal.

Some of the music was composed directly on Stus's poems, while others served as reflections and fantasies inspired by his texts. Between blocks, short facts about Vasyl Stus's life were shared — dates, events, details often overlooked in official biographies.

The evening concluded with a communal carol «Good evening to you, dear host».

On January 6, during Epiphany, the carol resonated in unison across various cities in Ukraine.