Folklore House

Tornike Skhiereli - Family Hotel "Folklore House"

In 2013, everything started when Malkhaz Erkvanidze, the teacher of church music and folk songs at the Giorgi Mtatsmindeli Singing Institute, led the first group of people from Ukhoi for a master class at Tornike’s in Oni. Since 2014, Tornike has been transforming his own house into the "House of Folklore." What began as an idea gradually evolved into a tangible reality — a hotel with three meals catering to foreigners interested in studying Georgian hymns and folk songs.

The offerings at "Folklore House" extend beyond accommodation. Various tours are arranged, including visits to traditional Racha wine cellars, observations of landscape and cultural monuments, master classes, encounters with ethnomusicologists, shared singing experiences, the preparation of hymn texts and notebooks, and instruction in playing traditional Racha and Georgian folk instruments. Visitors can also explore instrument workshops, gaining insight into the production process and even purchasing these unique instruments.

Moreover, the House of Folklore extends an invitation to anyone interested in a dinner accompanied by a concert from the folk group "Dzhiriani," all within an authentic setting, in villages. "Folklore House" in Oni serves as a repository of more than 200 samples of folk songs and hymns, preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region. It is a place where you can immerse yourself in an environment saturated with magical tunes, gravity of manners, warm hospitality, and the voices of people and villages singing during various cultural events or simply for the joy of singing.

The yearly program is published in advance on Tornike Skhiereli's Facebook page, allowing interested individuals to reserve a convenient period for themselves and "experience the uniqueness of the spirit of Racha!"