The 43rd Festival of Migrations, Cultures and Citizenship, which will be held at LuxExpo on 21 and 22 March, is the first coordinated by Mathieu Viau-Courville, who took over last summer as head of CLAE (Comité de Liaisons des Associations d’Etrangers).
The festival is a long standing tradition in Luxembourg’s calendar, attended by more than 30,000 from the Greater Region, which began in the 1980s.
“It’s one of the biggest and oldest festivals of migration in Europe, that brings together all voices linked with how Luxembourg thinks about the question of migration, and how it has this cultural diversity,” said Viau-Courville.
Mathieu Viau-Courville, the new co-ordinator of the Festival of Migrations © Photo credit: CLAE
“What is fascinating is that half the population of Luxembourg is foreign. It’s one of the most diverse societies in Europe, and this festival is the product of all the work CLAE does with all the associations, and social and political organisations, throughout the year,” he added.
Viau-Courville said that everyone has a voice and can express their ideas and projects about how we can shape society.
We really try to engage with this diversity through civic debates and cultural expressions, with people coming together to co-create a more inclusive society
Mathieu Viau-Courville
Co-ordinator for the 43rd Festival of Migrations
“We really try to engage with this diversity through civic debates and cultural expressions, with people coming together to co-create a more inclusive society.”
The agenda is packed with debates, theatre, comedy, several folkloric dance performances, stalls and stands selling items and culinary specialities, and the biggest highlight – the world music line up.
This year participation is the underlying theme, with stands in the village section inviting everyone to share stories, experiences and dialogue.
For the first time, the festival incorporates the Young Makers Space, for children and families to discover the world by doing, with activities to learn about diversity.
“We tried not to use a fixed theme, but include proposals on how we shape society inclusively, with several thematic projects and sharing of voices,” said Viau-Courville.
Folkloric dance from various countries including Luxembourg © Photo credit: Alain Piron
Conferences the mechanisms of participation and democracy he commented, adding that if you want to have a voice or become an activist, you need tools and spaces to do this.
Viau-Courville highlighted that there are core topics associated with migration which include areas such as labour conditions, exile, human rights, and anti-racist practises.
Several national and public organisations in Luxembourg, including museums, will be at the festival and Viau-Courville, originally from Canada but living in Luxembourg some 11 years, has a background in participatory projects in museums and heritage.
You can think of heritage and memory in terms of social engagement and inclusion and matters of social justice, to question the inequalities that structure society and to best make sure marginalised voices are heard
Mathieu Viau-Courville
Co-ordinator for the 43rd Festival of Migrations
“You can think of heritage and memory in terms of social engagement and inclusion and matters of social justice, to question the inequalities that structure society and to best make sure marginalised voices are heard.”
The Festival of Migrations has an inclusive approach to heritage and seeks to give everyone a voice to tell their own story on their own terms, he said.
CLAE was created in the 1980s to support associations linked to migration and to provide a welcoming space to newcomers. Not only does it support a plethora of organisations, but provides social assistance support, French language classes for integration, and IT and internet training to help people find work.
Live music performances throughout the two days of the festival © Photo credit: Alain Piron
Festival of Migrations – our highlights
Admission to the event is free, and you can view the full programme for both days here.
Music
Saturday evening is the best time to catch live performances, including Pa’Lante performing flamenco, oriental music (Turkish, Arabic, Indian) from Areej, and Congolese Rumba fusion from Kokowumba and friends, and Cosmopolite.
On Sunday from 17:00, head to the main hall for Afro-beats with K Melod, Coladeira (African and Caribbean music fusion) by Nhu Santos (at 18.00) and Funana from Grupo Pilon at 19:10.
NEW Young Makers Space
A creative and sensory playground that invites children and families to experiment, create, and question the world and the diversity of its cultures. Discover Moroccan culture, Japanese calligraphy, and African board games amongst other activities.
Comedy
Stand-up comics Sundeep Bardawji and Maya Garman will look at whether freedom of expression is in danger, with comedy about their experiences of an increasingly repressive climate of silencing dissent, and the capacity for humour to connect us, disrupt indifference, and challenge the silence surrounding human suffering. Catch them at 17:00 on 21 March in Salle 1.
Theatre
Seven immigrant women who moved to Luxembourg between the 1980s and 2020s will read their personal stories, and make you laugh and cry (at 17:30, 21 March, in the Village area).
Incognito will perform their unique mime, looking at identity and the path between conformism and individuality, on Sunday 22 March, at 13:30 and 15:00.
Debate and discussion
One People asbl have a roundtable on the realities and heritage of being black in Luxembourg (in French, on 21 March, 17:00, Salle 2B). You can also join a discussion on financial support and empowerment of youth and migrant-led projects, with young people presenting their projects (in English, on 22 March, 17:00).
Other performances – main hall (8)
Catch some reggae from Real Brothers Forever at 17:00, whilst Lux Soc Fusion will bring the Caribbean carnival at 17:30, both on 21 March. You can catch Cape Verdean carnival on Sunday 22 March at 16:00.
The Chinese Women’s Club will perform traditional music at 15:00, there’ll be traditional Ukrainian dance at 14:10 on 21 March, with folkloric dancing on 22 March from Luxembourg (13:00) and Poland (14:00).
Book Fair
New linguistic and cultural groups will be represented this year, including LIKABA asbl which presents contemporary African literature (and will also host a roundtable debate), and Mosaic asbl, presenting Arabic-language literature.
CLAE, together with the National Literature Centre, is also launching a series that explores the international reach of writers and creators in Luxembourg. This year the focus is on exploring how Luxembourg authors have been translated into Greek, which also includes a roundtable, and a live session of authors, illustrators and a Greek music group creating on-site.
