Life for Gaza was the first event in Europe to raise public awareness, support the cause of the Palestinian people and raise funds for Doctors Without Borders and Palestinian Medical Assistance operating in the war-occupied territories.
The event took place in Naples, at the Palapartenope theatre
last February 25th. The former mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris is also on the committee of guarantors of the fundraising campaign.
The event, promoted and organized by the Palestinian Community of Campania and Assopace Palestina, offered six hours of entertainment for 6 thousand people all united by a single thought: peace.
The “Cease fire” banner served as the backdrop to the stage which hosted artistic contributions, stories and testimonies from actors, poets, cartoonists, writers, activists and singers from all over Italy.
The event was attended by Ascanio Celestini, Alessandro Rak, Laura Morante, Valeria Parrella, Patrizio Rispo, Fiorella Mannoia, Enzo Gragnaniello, Osanna, Franco Ricciardi, Eugenio Bennato, La Maschera, 99 Posse, Daniele Sepe with Capitan Capitone and the Fratelli della Costa, Elisabetta Serio, Francesco Forni, Dario Sansone, ‘E Zézi, Sandro Joyeux, Giovanni Block, Massimo Ferrante, Capone & BungtBangt, Lino Cannavacciuolo, Suonno D’ajere, Carlo Faiello, Rosaria De Cicco, Eduardo Castaldo.
Among others, Moni Ovadia, Alan De Luca, Alessandro Bergonzoni, Piero Pelù, Sabina Guzzanti, Marisa Laurito participated.
Among these artists Massimo Ferrante, a Calabrian artist who has been engaged for years in the research, recovery and re-elaboration of songs belonging to the popular tradition, contributed to the event with a true and heartfelt performance of a Calabrian strina entitled “Strina du Giudeo” accompained by accordionist Francesco Di Cristofaro and by percussionist Francesco Paolo Manna.
You can listen “Strina du Giudeo” to by watching the video below. We report the song’s lyrics in Calabrese, its original language, with the English translation.
As Massimo Ferrante tells us, the strina is a Calabrian popular tradition, composed of a song accompanied by the guitar, tambourine and accordion. Originally also accompanied by the sound of the iron mortar which was used to crush the salt crystals. The strina tells and acidly comments on social and political events. The themes are moral, political, social, existential, nostalgic and amorous. This tradition is particularly rooted in Lago (U’ Vacu in Calabrian language) is a municipality in the province of Cosenza.
The Life for Gaza initiative has been successful in raising awareness for peace. It received much support and great solidarity, thanks to all those who supported humanitarian aid with a donation. It is still possible to support humanitarian aid with a donation by visiting the website https://pergaza.it/
