The Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne, Greek Writers Association of Australia and Pan-Arcadian Association of Melbourne Kolokotronis will jointly present a cultural afternoon dedicated to the novelist and Greek poet Odysseus Elytis.

The event will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of this renowned poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979. Elytis’ poetry borrows from Ancient Greece and Byzantium, but he mostly dedicated his work to modern Hellenism. His acclaimed work Worthy It Is (Άξιον Εστί) was set to music by Mikis Theodorakis and became a Greek anthem representing injustice and resistance. Translations of his poetry have been published in 11 languages. Academic and musician Pavlos Andronikos and poet Nikos Piperis will speak at the tribute event, in both Greek and English.

Musicians Spyros Papoutsis, Iakovos Papadopoulos and Maria Papoutsi-Kotsira will perform poems by Elytis which were transformed into songs by Mikis Theodorakis, as well as other composers. Dimitri Troaditis, general secretary of Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne and coordinator of Antipodes periodical, will MC the event.

This event will be held Sunday 21 August at 3.00 pm at the hall of the Pan-Arcadian Association of Melbourne Kolokotronis, Level 2, 570 Victoria St, North Melbourne, VIC. Free entry.