“Language Mosaic” at HSE: How It Happened
On February 19–20, HSE University, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the vibrant festival “Language Mosaic,” dedicated to International Mother Language Day. For two days, the campus transformed into a space of lively intercultural dialogue, where music filled the air, new friendships were formed, and the languages of the world intertwined into a colorful mosaic.
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The festival brought together students, faculty members, and guests of the university. Across different venues classrooms, the library, and even over a cup of tea participants discussed language as a living organism, a cultural code, and a bridge between peoples.
Day One: Opening Ceremony, Music, Theatre, and Pancake Tea Party
The festival was opened by Edita Nikolaevna Merkulova (Academic Supervisor of the Master’s Program in Applied Linguistics and Text Analytics), Konstantin Valerjevich Bannikov (Deputy dean of Faculty of Humanitites), and Anfisa Alekseevna Gorodnova (Head Librarian of HSE University – Nizhny Novgorod).
Right after the opening, guests were invited to the literary and musical salon “Kaleidoscope of the World’s Languages and Cultures.” The audience enjoyed the Belarusian song “Kupalinka” and a romance based on Bella Akhmadulina’s poetry performed by Elena Kravets, an energetic Nigerian Swange dance, Bollywood performances, and traditional Pakistani dances.
A particularly memorable moment was the theatrical performance depicting a traditional Igbo (Nigeria) marriage dissolution ceremony. One of the participants was Salami Janet Feyisayo, a second-year Master’s student in Fundamental and Applied Linguistics.
Salami Janet Feyisayo
This is not my first time participating in the ‘Language Mosaic’ festival, and it is always a wonderful experience. I took part in a scene that demonstrated traditional ways of dissolving a marriage in Igbo land (eastern Nigeria). As for the other languages and cultures, everything was very fun especially the dances.
The evening continued with workshops in the library, where guests explored the techniques of scratch art (grattage) and calligraphy. Later, they attended the opening of the interactive exhibition “Postal: A Journey with a Postcard.” The day ended in a warm and cozy atmosphere with a tea party at the BiblioCafe “Na Pecherke,” featuring pancakes in celebration of Maslenitsa.
Day Two: Spanish, Chinese, Dahl, and a Round Table Discussion
The second day of the festival was just as eventful. The library hosted an interactive session titled “Spanish: From Its Origins to Global Influence,” featuring quizzes, musical competitions, and a final trivia game. Later, guests immersed themselves in Chinese culture, learning about the symbolism of the Lunar New Year and creating traditional decorative knots during a hands-on workshop.
At Kostina Street, 2, a large linguistic program dedicated to Vladimir Dahl and the Russian language took place. Students and professors discussed regional dialects of Nizhny Novgorod, dialects of Chinese and German, and presented projects on key cultural concepts across languages. Particularly heartwarming were the performances by the vocal ensemble “Albion” and a poem in the Evenki language recited by Anna Belyavskaya.
The festival concluded with the round table discussion “Languages as a Worldview,” where speakers presented research on urban signage, the role of museums in learning Russian, and cultural presentations including the Nigerian delicacy egusi and a documentary film about Pakistan.
“Language Mosaic” once again reminded everyone that a university is not only about studying, but also about encounters, discoveries, and dialogue. Here, every voice matters, every language is unique — and together they create a remarkable picture of the world.
Authors: Ekaterina Savina, Alsalihi Hasan Kamal Mustafa
