São Paulo – There are only 15 days left for the applications for the 25th Immigrant Fest to close. The traditional celebration that brings together communities of refugees, migrants, and descendants of non-Brazilians from dozens of countries is due to June. Participants can represent their nations through cuisine, dancing, music, art or handicraft. Registrations are available on the Immigration Museum website. The deadline is January 31, 2020. Pictured above, typical Arab dish falafel served in 2019 Fest.
Last year, over 22,000 people attended the fest in the old Immigrant Inn of Brás in São Paulo featuring attractions from 48 different countries, including five Arab ones. Syria, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq and Egypt. Also represented in the 24th Festival were Germany, Armenia, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, the Republic of the Congo, Spain, Greece, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Russia.
The selection and confirmation of the participating groups are due to February.
The three-day event in 2019 feature 58 food and 29 handicraft stalls, as well as performances by 48 artistic groups. Arabs will be involved in various attractions, such as readings of the books Layla, a Menina Síria and Um outro país para Azzi; a concert of the Grupo Sawalef from Morocco, a belly dancing lesson given by Esparço Artístico e Terapêutico Malaika; Dabkeh – a folk Arab dance – and belly dancing lessons with Palestinian group; Arab Productions – Canja; an Arab handicraft workshop – “Vase stands in Macramé;” and a workshop on Arab calligraphy with Salim Mhanna.
Immigrant Festival attractions cover all age brackets and, since 2018, translation into sign language is available for the workshops and dance lessons, and artistic performances include audio descriptions. Folders in braille are handed out, and a team is available to help the hearing and visually impaired.
The Immigration Museum is run by the Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy of the São Paulo State Government. Always in June, the celebration is an established part of the cultural calendar of São Paulo. The program runs from 10 am to 6 pm. Exact dates were not yet revealed.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
