Bwa Kayiman: Crossing the Mangrove

Bwa Kayiman: Crossing the Mangrove
On Forests as Venues for Eco-Political Knowledge
Performances, dance, rituals, lectures, discussions, poetry, music, food, films, installations
August 1 & 2, 2026

Bwa Kayiman: Crossing the Mangrovemarks the fourth chapter in HKW’s long-term curatorial investigation of the unfinished task and legacy of the Haitian Revolution. Once again, the festival takes as its starting point the gathering in theBwa Kayimanforest on August 14, 1791, which marked the beginning of the revolution and culminated in the establishment of the first Black republic. The 2026 edition of the festival returns to the site of this landmark gathering to reflect on forests as sites of eco-political struggles. A special focus will be placed on mangrove forests as spaces of knowledge and connection. Today, mangroves are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, despite the significant role they play in regulating the global carbon cycle. As places where stories intersect, these porous forests also hold great significance for many Afro-diasporic and Indigenous groups, whose livelihoods worldwide are threatened by the exploitation of the environment—a practice systematically normalized through colonial narratives.  

Through dialogue with thinkers and practitioners from the Caribbean, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe, the festival addresses the ecological implications of colonialism, pressing environmental issues, and potential ways of assuming ecological responsibility. As in previous editions,Bwa Kayiman: Crossing the Mangroveaims to amplify the voices of those communities that continue to strive for emancipation. This year’s festival therefore includes not only performances, dance, rituals, lectures, discussions, poetry readings, music, food, films, and installations, but also a separate program section co-curated by members of Berlin’s Ryūkyūan/Okinawan diaspora community.

Featuring:
Dudley Alexis, Jason Allen-Paisant, Rodney Barreto, Boukman Eksperyans, Jean-Ulrick Désert, Marvin Diz, Malcom Ferdinand, Garifuna Collective, Yuliesky González Guerra, Yoko Gross, Ayrson Heráclito, Toyomitsu Higa, Takumi Hosokawa, Kolektif Choublak (Aïda Roumer, Carl-Henry Cadet, Trovania Delille, Yann-Olivier Kersaintl), Las Nietas de Nonó, David Leon, Hiroya Maeda, Stéphane Martelly, Camilo Mejía Cortés, Regis Molina, Ayaka Nakazato, Sésé Niyabja, James Noël, Thaís Omine, Dany Arce Paneque, Joceval Santos, John Shades, Riko Sugama, Nanyō Unten, Lia Estelle Widmaier, Akihito Yagi, David Zink-Yi, and others