The 5th edition of the Latin American Cultural Festival opened on Wednesday evening at the Calea Grivitei headquarters of the National Museum of Romanian Literature (MNLR), an event that will run until Sunday and offers over 15 events, from film screenings, to photography exhibitions, illustration or reproductions of engravings, concerts and public readings, with free access to the public, informs Agerpres.
At the opening of the festival, Ioan Cristescu, director general of the MNLR, suggested that the Latin American Cultural Festival should not only be an event of the cultural partnership, but also one of "cultures' embrace", just as the guest of honor at this year's Bookfest Book Fair, the Republic of Moldova, whose slogan was "I hold you", meaning "an embrace".
Peru's ambassador to Romania, Felix Denegri Boza, emphasized that Latin America is neither an economic nor a military power, fortunately, but it is certainly "a cultural power".
"Our culture is very rich and diverse and reflects the fusion of centuries of indigenous, European, African, Middle Eastern and Asian traditions and influences. In particular, our region's pre-Christopher Columbus heritage coexists with colonial influences, creating a vibrant identity that reflects resilience, creativity and a deep sense of community. Our region expresses its culture through various artistic manifestations, such as music, dance and gastronomy, religious and popular festivities. Each country has unique elements from the Son cubano, to the Argentinian tango, to Pablo Neruda's verses, to the colorful celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Mexico, or the feast of Our Lady of Candelaria in Peru. Over the next few days I would like to invite you to get immersed in Latin American culture by taking part in some of the 15 events programmed during the festival," said Felix Denegri Boza.
Cuban Ambassador to Romania, Deborah Leticia Ojeda Valedon, said that the MNLR allows a part of Latin American countries "to present themselves, to meet in a magnificent program to share their culture and traditions". "To admire and understand the cultural traditions of other peoples is a way to obtain understanding, sympathy and love between our peoples and to obtain the peace that we so need at present," said the Cuban diplomat.
The Argentine ambassador to Bucharest, Carlos Alejandro Poffo, read an excerpt from the novel Hopscotch by Argentine writer Julio Cortazar, which he called "a book that means many books", as the author himself characterized it.
Also attending the event were the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Romania, Julio Antonio Bravo Iubini, Alejandro Omar Vazquez Martinez - second secretary at the Embassy of Mexico, the director of the Cervantes Institute in Bucharest, Abel Murcia Soriano, representatives of the Brazil Embassy in Bucharest. In their speeches, the diplomats presented the cultural proposals of the countries they represent, mentioning some of the unique actions that are part of the festival program.
A concert of traditional Peruvian music was performed by the singer Itto Meza, and a recital was given by Catalina Beţa - voice and Liviu Negru - guitar.
The official program of this year's edition of the Latin American Cultural Festival can be found on the MNLR website, as well as on the institution's social media pages.
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