Year of Sea Culture Celebrated in Toronto

April 30, 2016

On 23 April, the Museum of Estonians Abroad, VEMU hosted its 5th Fundraising Dinner, where the musician/actor, Marko Matvere (Estonia) performed. The event was dedicated to the Year of Sea Culture in Estonia, as were Matvere’s other two performances.

On 24 April, Matvere shared his experiences from traveling around the world on the catamaran “Nordea” in 2010-2012. On 26 April, he gave a concert, I Like the Land!, with accordionist Peep Raun. The concert featured old seafaring tunes and ballads, along with stories about the golden age of sailing. This golden age is considered the time between the 16th and 20th centuries. During this time, ships with large sails transported travellers and goods all around the world.

Throughout the events at Tartu College, a model of the Manni sailboat, donated to VEMU by Leida Sepp, was on display in the great hall. This model is a replica of the sailboat on which Leida and her family fled from Kihnu Island in autumn of 1944.

Piret Noorhani