“Tukoita”: An Intercultural Evening of Fashion, Music, Dance and Community in Lecce

Following the success of “Takohemi Magkita”, the Diocesan Migrantes Office of the Archdiocese of Lecce renews its commitment to intercultural dialogue with a new initiative: “Tukoita”, scheduled for Saturday, 27 September 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Church of Saint Irene, along Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Lecce.

The event builds on the experience of the previous edition, made possible through the contribution of communities, associations, students, volunteers and individual citizens. That evening provided clear evidence that encounters between cultures are not only about coexistence or tolerance. They can become genuine spaces for creativity, exchange and social transformation.

The name “Tukoita” is a newly created word combining expressions meaning “let us meet” in several languages, including elements from Kenyan, Albanian and Filipino cultures. The name captures the essence of the project: a city in which different communities do not merely live alongside one another, but interact and enrich each other.

An intercultural fashion show celebrating shared beauty

The Church of Saint Irene will host an intercultural fashion show featuring handmade garments, accompanied by dance, singing, music, poetry and percussion.

The initiative will offer a journey through responsible and shared beauty, in which clothing, sounds and movement become ways of expressing identities, memories and personal stories.

The evening is not intended as a performance to be watched passively. It has been conceived as a participatory experience in which every person present becomes part of a common story and contributes to a wider community narrative.

The event will be presented by two volunteers, Gloria and Livia, who will guide the audience through the different performances and contributions.

MILOSAO and the Albanian community

Among the participants will be Albanian friends from ASAL Albania and the association MILOSAO – Popoli e Culture, who will present traditional Albanian songs and dances.

MILOSAO’s participation is fully aligned with the organisation’s mission to promote cultural heritage, encourage intercultural dialogue and build bridges between different communities.

Through music and dance, the audience will have an opportunity to discover meaningful expressions of Albanian tradition in an open setting where cultures can meet and exchange experiences.

A network of communities, schools and associations

The programme will involve a wide range of cultural, educational and community organisations.

The Kenyan musical group “Mijikenda” will bring African rhythms and sounds, while the Filipino Catholic Community will present traditional dances and music.

The Schola Cantorum Sacro Cuore of Lecce will perform traditional African songs, and students from the “Banzi-Bazoli” Scientific High School will contribute through music, singing and poetry.

Students from the “Antonietta De Pace” Institute in Lecce will present a fashion show featuring garments created during their educational workshops. Students from the “Morvillo Falcone-Bassi” Institute in Brindisi will showcase a collection of kaftan-inspired designs.

The association In Contatto APS of Veglie will take part with a fashion show dedicated to families from different cultural backgrounds, while the “Bitumaini” project, promoted by the Migrantes Office, will also contribute to the programme.

Throughout the evening, musical performances, poetry readings, fashion presentations and runway shows featuring garments created in tailoring workshops will come together in a true polyphony of faces, voices and stories.

Beauty as a tool for social change

“Tukoita” is based on the belief that beauty can become a practical instrument for social change. Clothing, songs, dances and rhythms become a shared language capable of breaking down barriers and creating new forms of understanding.

The event seeks to reaffirm that every person has a place and can contribute to building a more welcoming, inclusive and socially aware community. From this perspective, difference is not a problem to be managed, but a valuable resource to be recognised and celebrated.

“Tukoita” is therefore an invitation to meet, to recognise the stories of the people around us and to build new relationships through culture, creativity and solidarity.

Event information

Event: Tukoita – Intercultural Fashion Show
Date: Saturday, 27 September 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Church of Saint Irene
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Lecce
Promoted by: Diocesan Migrantes Office of the Archdiocese of Lecce
With the participation of: MILOSAO – Popoli e Culture, local communities, associations, schools and cultural groups