Roma singing quartet wins Ourvision Singing Contest

Multiethnic event held for third time

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The winner of the Ourvision Singing Contest, organised by the multi-ethnic Caisa Cultural Centre for a third time, was the Finnish Roma singing quartet Suoraläyetys on Saturday night. The first prize was a grant of EUR 7,000, and a recording contract.
      Coming in second, at the final event in Finlandia Hall was the Cuban Grupo Kaney and third was the Italian singer Luca Cannavo.
     
The Ourvision Singing Contest was first organised two years ago, in conjunction with Finland’s hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest.
     Ourvision was originally open to singers and bands of foreign origin; if a performer was born in Finland, then at least one of his or her parents was to have been a foreigner.
     This year participation was expanded to cultures in Finland, such as the Roma.
     This year 139 performers signed up for the contest. Participants in the semifinals, held at Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre, were chosen in try-outs, and the best acts of the semifinals went on to the finals at Finlandia Hall.
     
The Ourvision contest has sparked interest in other countries as well.
     “I have been contacted by people in the Philippines and the United States, who have wanted to take part in the contest”, says Ourvision producer Kitari Mayele. “We have had to explain to them that the contest is open only to people living in Finland.”
     The organisers of the contest have also been asked for advice in arranging similar events in other countries. “Such approaches have come from Spain and Germany. There have also been contacts from the European Broadcasting Union.
     
Organisers are considering taking a break next year in order to concentrate on developing the concept, and getting more sponsors.
     Minister of Migration Affairs Astrid Thors (Swed. People’s Party), who attended last year’s final at Finlandia Hall, suggested moving the event to a bigger venue, such as the Hartwall Arena, where the 2007 Eurovision Song contest was held.
      Mayele does not expect to get a bigger venue. He says that a more likely trend is to spread the event beyond Finland.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ourvision Singing Contest to have 139 participants (27.1.2009)
  Ourvision finalists to compete on Saturday (24.4.2008)

Links:
  Ourvision Singing Contest website
  The International Cultural Centre Caisa

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