Liverpool’s Ukraine Eurovision declared a success. How were Katumba involved?
Dubbed the ‘best Eurovision ever’, we reflect on a spectacular two weeks which saw around half a million people descend on Liverpool
Liverpool’s Ukraine Eurovision declared a success. How were Katumba involved?
Dubbed the ‘best Eurovision ever’, we reflect on a spectacular two weeks which saw around half a million people descend on Liverpool
As we reflect on the Eurovision madness, we want to take time to share how proud we are of our wonderful city!!
We truly showed the world how diverse and vibrant our art scene is!!
Well done to all the Liverpool creatives who got involved with the festivities and thank you to those who collaborated with us other the past few months! We absolutely smashed it!
The vibes for the entire Eurovision spectacle were incredible, with Liverpool pulling out all the stops and showing the world what we got!
This was so much more than a competition; it was a celebration of diversity and our wider European (and Australian) community, and a profound statement of solidarity with Ukraine.
Liverpool’s Eurovision has been described as an event “full of unapologetic joy and unity” and “the most successful Eurovision Song Contest ever” – with rumours of an economic legacy over the next two years that could be as great as £250m.
It has left an indelible impact on a huge number of people here in Liverpool and globally!
As Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said,
“We haven’t just done Eurovision, we have done it with a Ukrainian vision and a Scouse slant. Nowhere else could have done what we have done.”
We are so grateful for the whirlwind of events and happenings that Katumba were a part of.
We launched into Eurovision by bringing carnival vibes to Revolución de Cuba’s Eurovision Parade, drawing curious crowds to the Salthouse Dock and giving them a taste of the non-stop entertainment that was to come throughout Eurovision, from so many wonderful performers and artists.
Images: Revolucion de Cuba Liverpool @decubaliverpool
Then as the Eurovision crowds poured into Liverpool’s Lime Street Station on Tuesday 9 May, we were there to welcome the World’s biggest Eurovision Fan Club OGAE UK with some suitably massive sounds and energy.
Images: Mark McNulty Culture Liverpool and Network Rail Media Centre
And we are still buzzing from the wonderful Blue and Yellow submarine parade with Aquatopiaaa – and spectacular parade finale!
Images: David Leeke
Our final special moment was performing at the Live Eurovision Party at BBC Radio Merseyside, where we were played an original Katumba composition which is now available on BBC Sounds
Katumba founder and director Juliana told presenter Claire Hamilton how it felt to take part in Liverpool and Ukraine’s Eurovision 2023:
“Bringing the carnival arts to the community in Liverpool but at the same time on an international level during Eurovision has been amazing.
“We’ve loved being a part of the celebrations here where we are based, bringing what we do and involving all of our 100 drummers from the community.
“It has been a great opportunity to express Liverpool culture, and to celebrate and support Ukraine as well.
It is very much the tradition of Brazilian carnival, where I am from, to use carnival and all this joy to actually do a form of expression in protest, in a joyful way.
So we are playing a song called Forcefield in honour of Ukraine – an original composition by Katumba’s Musical Director Ritchie Tunstall.”
The only thing left to say is, when can we do it all again??!
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