Olga Sipowicz, widely known as Kora, the leader of rock band Maanam was buried on Wednesday at the Powązki Miitary Cemetary in Warsaw. Her family, friends, artists and fans were present. "She was a diamond of finest quality," said music journalist Wojciech Mann.
The funeral ceremonies commenced before noon at the Powązki Military Cemetary. The last farewell to the Maanam leader was attented by relatives and friends of the artist, science and culture personalities, jounalists, politicians, as well as a crowd of fans.
Many people brought flowers, some wore T-shirts with the artist's likeness. A few well-known songs of Maanam were played, including "Mówią, że miłość mieszka w niebie" i "Się ściemnia". On the scene, among the white flowers and lit candles, Kora's portrait and an urn with her ashes was placed.
"When artists pass away, its an occasion to reminisce their achievements, awards and successes. In Kora's case, I don't find it rather unneceassary because all of us, at some point in our lives, have come across her works, her career - and not only with her music, but also with her opinions, comments," said Wojciech Mann.
"She always had "freedom" written on her banner," said Mann and added that Kora "was a diamond of finest quality".
The artist's husband Kamil Sipowicz said that no one would like find themselves in such situation.
"Over 40 years of life spent together, a union of bodies, spirits, awareness and ideas, so strong that at some point we have thought we're one entity, we have communicated practically without using words. Neither one of us have thought that someone is going to end up alone. On the other hand, I feel that she's still here with us," said Mr Sipowicz.
According to philosopher Professor Magdalena Środa, Kora "has never been lukewarm, but always hot".
"It's hard to imagine the world without her tremendous energy manifesting itself in concerts, singing, writing and fighting with her illness as in this field she was a really tough warrior," said Professor Środa. "Let us rejoice that she was with us and that she still is. Because Goddesses never die," she added.
Former President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek said that Kora has built her world arduously, with insistency, but also with courage - "the world of freedom" that she shared with others.
"For You, freedom was a key to the truth. You were always saying that these two (values): freedom and truth must be kept safe as they are the pillars of our humanity, of the beauty of life. They are of highest importance to all of us," said Mr Buzek.
Music aficionado and expert Piotr Metz said that Kora, in her lyrics, showed us how to speak in plain words about ultimate value, about love.
"You've created the most beautiful, anti-war lyric about love "Jestem kobietą" (I'm a woman). All of it was like a secret, underground education, all written down in millions of notebooks, learned by heart and then sang out loud at the concerts or at home to a sound of a skipping record," said Piotr Metz.
Kora has died on the 28th of July. She has been fighting with a genetic ovarian cancer. She informed about her illness in 2014.
Kora is survived by her two sons and her husband Kamil Sipowicz.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP