Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — June 20, 2025 – The 2nd Edition of the Festival of the Greater South: Peoples in Motion, Living Cultures will take place in Addis Ababa from June 27th – 29th. This will be a vibrant three-day celebration honouring the creativity, resilience, and shared identity of communities across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Organised by the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), this year’s edition promises an immersive experience spotlighting the living cultures and dynamic spirit of the Greater South. The festival will unfold as follows:
On June 27th -28th, A spectacular performance dubbed ‘Kalakuta Republik’ by The Serge Aime Coulibaly and Faso Dance Theatre from Burkina Faso/Mali/Belgium, known for its creative expression centered on the legacy of Fela Kuti, and a classical and contemporary performance showcasing Cambodia’s rich preforming arts tradition by the National Company from the Department of Performing Arts will follow, offering a unique window into the country’s rich heritage and artistic evolution. Both performances will be held at the Ethiopian National Theatre.
On June 28th and 29th, there will be a live music concert by Cuban innovator Raúl Paz, Tunisian pop sensation Asma Othmani, songstress SOMOS NAí from Uruguay, YEMa, a talented youngster and performing artist from Ethiopia, Sydney Salmon and The Imperial Majestic Band with roots from Jamaica and soulful Blick Bassy Band from Cameroon showcasing the richness in voice and artistry from the Greater South region to be held at the OSC headquarters.
As an extension of the Festival, the OSC will also host a high-level colloquium titled “Greater South Colloquium: Culture and the Arts in a Transforming World” on 4th – 5th July 2025 at the Universidad Nacional de Avellanda (UNDAV) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The colloquium will bring together theorists, practitioners, artists and the public. It aims to serve as a critical space for exchange, solidarity-building, and the promotion of self-affirmation through culture.
The Festival of the Greater South is a collective experience to be lived, not merely to be watched. Residents, students, the diplomatic community, and artists will join hands to co-create a vibrant tapestry of motion and memory. Each brushstroke, beat, and movement will become part of a shared narrative of resilience, resistance, and renaissance. Marking the anniversary of the entry into force of the OSC’s Constitutive Charter, the Festival is a strategic programme of OSC which is meant to position culture at the heart of transformation, reclaiming narrative power, honouring the past, and reimagining futures.
