Vejlemi Erinaq Kalattoortartullu got bingo and a full plate, when the Inuit Association had invited to the annual choir competition Tusariarlinngooq (Tusa) on Saturday last week.
The Vejle choir won both the competition for choirs without musical accompaniment with the song Ukiakkut tarrajussereersoq and the competition for choirs with musical accompaniment with the show number Eqqumiileqaagut, which is a bid for a modern Greenlandic rap.
Vejlemi Erinaq Kalattoortartullu also had the home field advantage, because the competition took place in Vejle. But Tusa is not an audience competition. The songs are judged by a jury committee with representatives from all the Greenlandic associations in Denmark, so everyone has a chance.
The judging committee also had to work overtime, because the field was large and the standard was high. This also meant that the results were not announced until 7 pm after the communal dinner. Normally, it happens earlier.
Close competition
- It was a tough battle to decide the battle, says the chairman of Inuit Camilla Siezing.
- In the competition with musical accompaniment, the result was a tie for several of the songs, so it was just before a photo finish had to be taken. But for both winning songs, the decision was now clear and unambiguous.
- You could also hear that from the audience, who clapped rhythmically when the winners were revealed.
It was also new that Tusa took place in Vejle. For many years, the competition has been held at Hotel Pejsegården in the small town of Brædstrup between Silkeborg and Billund.
- We chose to move Tusa to Vejle because it is easier for participants who do not drive themselves.
The move to Vejle also paid off for Inuit.
- 250 tickets were sold for this year's competition compared to 170 last year, Inuit's treasurer Johnhard Telling said when the day was over.
