Mr Nasser Boladai, UNPO President, and Mr Marino Busdachin, UNPO General-Secretary opened the celebration by welcoming members, spectators and performers alike. Attendees were then presented with a video created by the Secretariat of the UNPO, which gave a brief overview of UNPO’s activities from its inception in 1991 to the present day. Following the visual theme, attention was drawn to the photography exhibition ‘Indigenous Peoples – Invisible Peoples’. Kindly sponsored by the Nando Peretti Foundation, the exhibition displayed photographs by Italian photojournalist Mr Luca Catalano Gonzaga depicting the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable and isolated indigenous peoples, including UNPO members, the Haratin, Batwa, Degar-Montagnards and Mapuche. 

As the ultimate expression of identity and a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, cultural manifestations such as music and dance play a fundamental role in fostering feelings of group identity and solidarity. Throughout the evening, the venue’s stage was taken over by passionate Balochis, Kurds, Uyghurs, Taiwanese, Sindhi, Ogadeni, Oromian and West Papuans, who treated spectators to a number of powerful performances, showcasing the many talents of each group and stirring up the audience. Either by the sound of the flute performing Taiwanese folkloric melodies, by the vibrant traditional clothes of Somalis in Ogadenia, by the enthralling circular dance of the Sindhis or by the melodies of traditional Balochi instruments, the event excelled in diversity and beauty. 

With the exception of Taiwan, the hosting of such an evening would have been impossible in any state within which these nations and peoples share a territory. Notwithstanding the bittersweet reminder of the critical situation of those and many other minority populations, indigenous peoples and occupied or unrecognized territories in the world, the cultural event of last 29 April was instead a symbol of hope. As Mr Busdachin highlighted during his opening remarks, promoting understanding and valuing cultural diversity are the keys to countering some of the most challenging issues in today’s world.  

In the face of marginalization and against assimilation policies imposed by authoritarian regimes, nations and peoples have always, and will always, continue to seek expression of their distinct languages, cultures, beliefs and traditions. In this context, the evening was a celebration of peaceful resistance through the richness of cultural expression. Moreover, the UNPO’s milestone not only commemorated the organizations’ achievements, but also the fact that UNPO remains adherent to its founding charter, with its guiding principles of nonviolence, democracy and self-determination, human rights, environmental protection and tolerance. Beyond a memorable evening, the event showed that, with resilience and solidarity among peoples, cultures will prevail.

Click here to watch the video of the Balochi presentation

Click here to watch the video of the Kurdish presentation

Click here to watch the video of the Uyghur presentation 

Click here to watch the video of the Taiwanese presentation