The 'Dagestan' Moscow Cultural Center marks 25th anniversary

Moscow marked the 25th anniversary of the 'Dagestan' Moscow Cultural Center. Social ethnic and cultural unions began to appear in the USSR in the late 1980s. By the time the Dagestani community had received official status in Moscow, there was a strong diaspora, certain traditions emerged. In yearly 1989 an initiative group on development of the Charter and other documents of the future 'Dagestan' Moscow Cultural Center was established. It included representatives of the Dagestani intelligentsia, such as the current head of the republic Ramazan Abdulatipov, nuclear physicist Amir Amayev, composer Shirvani Chalayev, Director of the Medicine Museum Boris Nuvakhov, an engineer of missile systems Arsen Huseinov, doctor Magomed Abdulkhabirov, physician Zaynutdin Magomedov, journalist Shapi Kaziyev, and artist Dibit Izrailov.

The 'Dagestan' Moscow Cultural Center has been a guardian of the ancient original culture, history, traditions, and customs of peoples who have lived in Dagestan for many years. Over the years of the Center’s existence, it has become a support and a pillar for many Dagestanis who have come to Moscow from native places; it is a special inspiring spiritual center.

The hall was full at the anniversary concert, as one could see famous artists of Dagestani pop-culture, who arrived in Moscow. Anchors of the concert were natives of Dagestan – singer Mark Tishman and TV presenter Yulia Dibrova.

“For 25 years we haven’t betrayed our principles and managed to maintain our honor and dignity, purity and unity,” Arsen Huseinov, the President of the 'Dagestan' MCC, said. The Cultural Center has become an initiator of many cultural, educational, and social organizations, such as the Namus Poliycultural Russian-Dagestani Center n.a. Rasul Gamzatov, the social movement of ‘Dagestan without Orphans,’ chorographical ensembles of Namus, The Dawn, the vocal and instrumental ensemble of Salam, and the Association of the Youth of Dagestan.

Izumrud Mugutdinova, the permanent representative of Dagestan under the President of Russia, read a greeting letter by Ramazan Abdulatipov: “The Center was established by us in a very difficult period for the country, when it was especially important to unite and support Dagestani countrymen, satisfying their ethnic and cultural demands. Over the past years, a lot has been done; hundreds of wide-scale arrangements had been held. But the most important thing is that the center is a hearth of Dagestani culture, which provides light and warmth to the whole of multinational Moscow…”

The Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Alexander Gorbenko, called the Cultural Center “one of the most powerful ethnic and cultural organizations in Moscow.”

Guests of the evening were amazed not only by the concert, but also by a display of unique antiquarian ethnic costumes of the peoples of Dagestan from the collection of the well-known narrator and founder of the folklore ensemble of Balkhar, Kachu Gammadov, and by a fashion show of the LiliBanet Fashion House.

The audience showed a special interest in the broadcasting of video-greetings by compatriots from Canada, the UAE, Germany, Italy and Turkmenistan.
There was also an exhibition of ethnic dolls, items of Dagestani crafts, and well-known Dagestani dishes.