Ammajare 2025: four days of meetings and reflection, the second edition comes to a close

Siligo. The second edition of the Ammajare Festival closed last night, with a large turnout. The theme of persecutions, old and new, found a moment of deeper focus in the discussion “On our skin. Gaza and surrounding areas”, dedicated to the dramatic situation in which the people of the Gaza Strip are surviving.

The meeting, moderated by journalist Giusy Ferreli, opened with the question: «How can the individual voices rising in protest against the massacre of civilians in Gaza be turned into a powerful tool?», asked by Ferreli herself to spark debate. From there the contributions began, including that of Father Stefano Gennari, from the association «Mondo X Sardegna», who stressed the importance of starting from what unites us, condemning forms of extreme poverty and recognizing in the other a source of richness.

The mayor of Siligo, Giovanni Porcheddu, reiterated the community’s sense of responsibility: «When the need emerged not to look the other way, as administrators we decided to get moving. We spoke with people, beyond positions and professions. With our 750 residents we wanted to show that even small towns can do their part. We shared with the mayors of the surrounding area the choice to organize a march: not static words, but a dynamic gesture».

Journalist Pier Giorgio Pinna denounced the role of the media, too often bent to the logic of confrontation: «We would need journalists who cultivate critical thinking. Instead, fan clubs and oppositions are created, while the world lives the nightmare of a return to the nuclear nightmare».

Andrea Zironi, from the association «Ponti non muri», recalled the image of Gaza as a “prison-territory”: «If we moved it here, it would be an area from Castelsardo to Porto Torres, with two million people – now sharply decreasing – crammed into a space with density twice that of New York. They have received more bombs than fell during the Second World War. We know everything, and that is the problem: we can’t say we didn’t know».

Also very moving was the testimony of Hiba Alif, Councillor for Peace for the Municipality of Ravenna and awarded the recognition The future we want: «Many have called my peace portfolio a “fluff portfolio”. But peace is social justice. Promoting a culture of peace and non-violence projects is essential to build a better future».

Daniela Falconi, speaking on behalf of ANCI, underlined how Sardinia knows well the weight of wars and the contradiction of the many military bases on the island: «It would be wonderful if every municipality in Sardinia had a peace department. The commitment is that from our territories a strong voice against war will rise».

During the debate, Paolo Bellotti, president of the association Intrecci Culturali, also spoke, reading some passages from the Carta di S’Aspru, presenting it as a tool to start a grassroots path to peace and involve the whole community in promoting a ceasefire and negotiations. Among the main principles recalled: Conflict Management and Dialogue, facing differences by seeking what unites, and Active Non-Violence, indicated as a shared practice for resolving conflicts.

The signing of the Carta di S’Aspru sealed the meeting, with a public invitation to continue the journey together: take a stand against all wars, condemn extreme poverty and promote a culture of peace as a shared heritage.

The contributions on current injustices and persecutions found cues in the books by Edoardo Mantega and Francesca Spanu, who invited reflection on the importance of safeguarding natural environments, such as Montiferru, and of respecting and understanding diversities and conditions often not recognized, such as obesity.

Over the course of the evening, two important awards were presented:

The Ammajare Prize 2025 went to Cinzia Angela Seddone, author of Like a phoenix, a woman who, after years of domestic violence, said “enough”. The prize, a juniper-wood sculpture made by the association “Le Dragonesse” – made up of women who have undergone breast cancer surgery and practice dragon boat for rehabilitation and bonding – represents strength, resilience and solidarity.

The special prize The future we want was awarded to Hiba Alif, a symbol of civic commitment and inclusion.

The festival closed with the concert by the group Humaniora, which led the audience on a musical journey dedicated to female figures in history and culture, from Maria Carta to Grazia Deledda, from Antonia Mesina to Maria Lai, up to Marah Abu Zuhri, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman who arrived in Italy from the Gaza Strip and died in Pisa from malnutrition.

During the final greetings, the mayor of Siligo Giovanni Porcheddu announced news that marks an important recognition for the town: the small municipality of Meilogu will officially become part of “The Network of Witch Cities”, a cultural and tourism initiative created to enhance territories linked to the tradition of witchcraft. The project leader is Benevento, joined by municipalities such as Castel del Monte and Triora. Siligo will be the eighth municipality to join and the first in Sardinia.

The second edition of Ammajare confirms the importance of festivals able to address current and delicate themes, such as modern persecutions and contemporary injustices, creating spaces for reflection, dialogue and participation for the whole community. Events like this show how culture can be a tool for awareness and social change.