Derzhavin University hosted a concert program, "Palette of Unity," dedicated to International Culture Day and the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. This interethnic festival was held for the third time and was part of Derzhavin University's program for social adaptation, integration, and development of international students.
"Tambov State University named after G. R. Derzhavin positions itself as an internationally oriented university. Currently, we have over two thousand students from 63 countries. Therefore, for us, the international agenda is about high-quality education and the promotion of friendship between peoples and national cultures," noted Pavel Moiseev, Rector of Derzhavin University. "Today, students of different nationalities can talk about their countries and share a piece of their traditions."
The concert was organized by the Center for Social Adaptation and Intercultural Communication of the Department of International Relations at Derzhavin University.
Student creative groups, national associations, and university volunteer organizations participated in the festive program. International student activists played a special role, becoming the event's central figures.
Before the concert, interactive spaces were set up in the foyer, styled as an ethnographic space. Guests tried out the ancient art of Indian mehndi, braided their hair in accordance with traditional African traditions, tried on elements of folk costumes, tried their hand at Arabic and Chinese calligraphy, made candles at the "Light of Unity" workshop, tasted Moroccan tea, and recorded interviews in the media area of the TSUNAMI | DerzhavaMedia student center.
"Today we present the ancient culture of Morocco. It is a country where the North African desert meets the Atlantic Ocean." "Our people are very generous and hospitable," says El Attari Mohammed, a sixth-year student at the Institute of Medicine and Health Promotion. "One of our traditions is tea drinking. We brew hot tea from herbs—melissa, lemon verbena, and so on—and add lime and orange. This tea invigorates and brings peace and calm to the soul. The drink combines sweetness with a slight tartness and the aromas of the East—it symbolizes life, love, and family. We organized a tasting for our friends from around the world so they could experience the unique atmosphere of our country."
The "Palette of Unity" concert was conceived as a "world tour" without borders. It opened with a Russian folk dance, followed by Central Asian vocals, followed by a fiery "Dabke" dance and a traditional Lebanese folk song. The audience then enjoyed an Indian dance and a Chinese vocal performance. The "Russia – the Soul of Unity" section was the program's culmination, featuring a multicultural kaleidoscope of theatrical, poetic, and choreographic performances symbolizing friendship and the bonds between nations.
The official portion featured speeches from the leaders of the "Russian Language Volunteers" student initiatives, participants in the "GOODWIN" social action program, and representatives of the "World Without Borders" media club and the Women's Leadership Association.
"These events help us understand other cultures more holistically. I explored the interactive platforms and became intrigued by the various symbols and national identities. I'm interested in East Asian culture: I enjoy anime (Japanese animation), donghua (Chinese animation), and doramas (TV series). I'm trying to learn Chinese on my own," said Anastasia Nefedova, a second-year student at the Engineering and Technical Institute.
The evening concluded with a joint appearance on stage by all the program participants accompanied by a choral rendition of the song "We Are The World" performed by an instrumental version of the song about peace.
