Janina Pydo – singer from Roztocze Zachodnie with a unique repertoire of ritual, sacred and secular songs performed in the traditional dialect (Zastawie, Lubelskie Voivodeship, Biłgorajszczyzna / Biłgoraj Land)

She was taught the songs by her grandma and mum singing in the family cottage, at weddings, at work and in the church. For 30 years, she intoned rosary prayers beside the people who had just passed away.

She started performing in public quite late in her life but she was quick to gain praise and acknowledgement – she has been twice awarded in Kazimierz, performed with such artists as Dorota and Henryk Miśkiewicz, and has taken part in film productions.

She has appeared on a number of record albums, and her solo album titled W domu. Portret (At Home. A Portrait) won the first prize at the competition ‘Fonogram Źródeł 2024’ (‘The Phonograph of the Roots 2024’).

She claimed her Baszta (Castle Tower) award at the festival in Kazimierz in June 2025.

She teaches the young people, conducts workshops and sings in groups. Her poignant, natural, memory-carried singing is an indispensable source of the musical traditions of the region of Roztocze Zachodnie.