Celebration of Cultural Festivities at the Dietrich-Keuning Residence
Get ready for an exciting cultural extravaganza as the Dietrich-Keuning-Haus Latin American cultural festival, VIVA!, returns from September 18 to 20, 2025. This year, Colombia is the guest country of honour, and the festival promises to showcase its rich culture, music, dance, art, and cuisine.
The festival kicks off on September 18, 2025, at 6 pm, with an informative and enjoyable evening dedicated to coffee. The opening event will include a short film about coffee cultivation in Colombia, followed by a lecture by the Colombia Information Office e.V. from Wuppertal. The lecture will discuss the history of Fair Trade, from its beginnings in the 1980s to current debates about seals, criteria, and solidarity in trade. Admission to this event is free.
The following day, September 19, 2025, is dedicated to a Colombian evening titled "Soundscape of Colombian Landscapes." The evening begins at 7 pm and is moderated by Sigrid Palacios Castillo and Pedro Barrera Carrillo. The event features dances and music from various regions of Colombia, followed by a DJ playing Colombian rhythms to keep the party going. Admission to the Colombian evening is €6 at the box office.
The open-air event starts at 2 pm on both September 18 and 20, 2025, and is family-friendly. It offers workshops, children's activities, and a stage program. Accompanying the performances, there will be local food, drinks, arts and crafts, jewelry, and more. Children and youth under 16 are free, while admission for adults is €8 (advance €6) at the box office.
Represented countries at the open-air event include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The festival concludes on September 20, 2025, with a large open-air event at the Keuning-Haus.
The organizer responsible for the coffee lecture on September 18, 2025, at the Dietrich-Keuning-Haus, as part of the VIVA! festival, is the Dietrich-Keuning-Haus in cooperation with Patricia Hohlsiepe, Alejandra Oviedo, Patricia Ferreyra Burgues, and Sigrid Yanara Palacios Castillo.
Join us at the VIVA! festival to experience the vibrant culture of Latin America and celebrate the rich heritage of Colombia. Don't miss this opportunity to taste and purchase fair-trade products, engage in personal exchange, and immerse yourself in the sounds, sights, and flavours of Colombia.
