What's happened
Former Eurovision winner Jamala insists Ukraine must participate in the contest to keep attention on the country's ongoing war, despite calls for a boycott over Israel's inclusion. Ukraine's current entrants, alyona alyona and Jerry Heil, are on their way to Sweden for the competition.
Why it matters
Former Eurovision winner Jamala's stance on Ukraine's participation in Eurovision amidst calls for a boycott sheds light on the country's ongoing war and the importance of using platforms like Eurovision to raise awareness. The departure of Ukraine's current entrants, alyona alyona and Jerry Heil, to the competition in Sweden underscores the country's commitment to showcasing its culture despite the challenging circumstances.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Jamala emphasized the need for Ukraine to stay in the news by participating in Eurovision, stating, 'Some countries may refuse to participate but we don’t.' The Guardian highlighted Jamala's view that a boycott over Israel's inclusion was not an option for Ukraine, emphasizing the country's need to remind Europe of Russia's invasion. South China Morning Post reported on alyona alyona and Jerry Heil's departure for Eurovision, quoting Heil saying, 'We need to show that even now, during the war, our culture is developing.'
How we got here
Ukraine has a history of using Eurovision as a platform for cultural diplomacy, with artists like Jamala leveraging the contest to bring attention to important issues. The ongoing war in Ukraine, particularly in the context of Russia's invasion, has heightened the significance of Ukraine's participation in Eurovision as a means of showcasing the country's resilience and creativity.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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The Eurovision Song Contest is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union and featuring participants representing primarily European countries.
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Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, better known by her stage name Jamala, is a Ukrainian singer, actress and songwriter. She represented Ukraine and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden with her song "1944".