France Sings in Breton for the First Time in Decades

MAY 15 2022 · 12:00

Alvan & Ahez · "Fulenn" · France · 2022 Placement: 24 · Score: 17 · Language: Breton · Composers: Alvan Morvan-Rosius, Marine Lavigne, Sterenn Diridollou, Sterenn Le Guillou · Venue: PalaOlimpico · Host: Turin, Italy · Type: language rule break · Broadcast: streaming era Alvan (electronic producer) joins Ahez (three Breton-language folk singers) on the Turin stage for 'Fulenn' — entirely in Breton, one of France's regional minority languages. The arrangement blends traditional Breton kan ha diskan call-and-response with electronic production. 17 points for 24th place. Kalush Orchestra win for Ukraine with 'Stefania'. Context Breton is a Celtic language spoken by around 200,000 people in Brittany. France's choice of a Breton-language entry, through France Télévisions's competitive selection, was the country's boldest minority-language Eurovision gesture since Corsican's 2011 appearance with Amaury Vassili. The three singers of Ahez are traditional Breton folk vocalists. Legacy 'Fulenn' is now cited in academic minority-language policy studies as an example of Eurovision being used as a minority-language visibility platform. Breton cultural organizations celebrated the result despite the low placement. Alvan's continuing electronic-trad production has Breton-language at its centre. France would return to French-language entries for 2023 and beyond.