Lakou is Haitian Creole, which means a piece of land. Or a small yard, but above all, a place where all the important aspects of living together take place. And it’s, in its etymological origin, the subtitle of this year’s Bwa Kayiman festival at the HKW. The festival is in its third year, once again offering a packed program of performances, rituals, discussions, poetry, music, food, film, and installations. It’s about sovereignty: as a conscious examination of forms of resistance, belonging, memory, and transmission. This includes performances such as Plidetwal – Rain of Stars, a poetic assembly in Haitian Creole and French (with simultaneous translation in parts). Or Tongue and Throat Memories, part of an ongoing series at the HKW that links food, memory, and identity. On August 1, chef Craig Wong invites visitors to Food Offerings in the Lili Elbe Garden with Patois Gathering from Asia to the Caribbean — creating a culinary connection to his Jamaican-Chinese heritage. None of the contributions will be concentrated on one stage, but spread throughout the building and deliberately designed to be open. Zemí is a word from the Taíno language and describes a form of spiritual presence that can manifest itself in objects, landscapes, ancestors, or gestures. This is precisely what Bwa Kayiman wants: to understand history as something that is not complete, but continues to have an effect in everyday life.
Text: Inga Krumme / Credits: Vibrations, Translations, Slim Soledad, 2023, Photo: Mayra Wallraff; Patois Toronto; Studio Bowe
Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Bwa Kayiman – Lakouzémi 01.–03.08.2025. Find the full program here.
@hkw_berlin
