The Latin American and Caribbean embassies in the State of Qatar, with the support and collaboration of Katara Cultural Village Foundation, held a vibrant Cultural Festival Week from April 26 to 30.

The five-day celebration served as a dynamic platform to showcase the rich heritage, traditions, and artistic expressions of the region.

The event was notably graced by the Foreign Minister of Peru, Elmer Schialer Salcedo, during his official visit to Doha—part of his four-nation tour of the Arabian Gulf. While visiting Katara Cultural Village, Schialer commended Qatar’s efforts in promoting culture and dialogue through such initiatives. “I really, really congratulate Qatar for this wonderful idea of establishing Katara Cultural Village. I think this is something we all, countries in the world, have to learn about,” he remarked.

The festival commenced with an exhibition featuring traditional garments, photographs, and artifacts from the participating countries.

The opening ceremony saw the presence of several esteemed guests, including the Deputy Minister of Culture of Peru; Saif Saad Al-Dosari, Deputy General Manager of Katara Cultural Village; Jassim Mohammed Al-Asmakh, Director of the Department of American Affairs at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; ambassadors; dignitaries; HRH Princess Dr. Moradeun Ogunlana, UN Ambassador for Peace and Founder of AWHPI Global Foundation; Hon. Angelyne Butler, Mayor of Forest Park, Georgia; Hon. Grace Bian, Vice President of the U.N. Global Sustainability Film Awards; and other distinguished guests.

François Guillaume II, Ambassador of Haiti and Dean of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), welcomed the guests at the inauguration ceremony celebrating the region’s cultural richness—its music, arts, and landmarks such as Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls. He honored the memory of the late Pope Francis, applauding his commitment to interfaith dialogue, a value shared and embodied by Qatar through institutions like Katara.

Ambassador Guillaume also acknowledged the exceptional efforts of Dr. Khalid Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, Director General of Katara Cultural Village, and the Embassy of Peru for their leadership in curating the festival.

The week-long program featured a variety of engaging events, including an art and photography exhibition; ‘Surfed Here, The Journey’ by the Embassy of El Salvador; screening of the film Becho by the Embassy of Uruguay; a performance by a Peruvian musical group; and the grand finale—2D Cuba Concert by the Embassy of Cuba.

One of the cultural highlights was the screening of the animated film ‘Becho’ introduced by Marcelo Estela Gerona Morales, Ambassador of Uruguay. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Uruguay’s independence, the ambassador emphasised the importance of cultural expression through traditional music and dance forms such as candombe, murga, and tango—symbolised globally by La Cumparsita. The film, directed by José Infantosi and co-written with Rosario Infantosi—descendants of the tango’s composer Gerardo Matos Rodríguez—delved into the origins of this iconic piece.

The festival concluded with a spectacular concert featuring 14 performances by Cuban artists Adrian McPherson and Samantha Echeverria of the D2 Cuban Musical Band, celebrating Cuba’s musical heritage and its deep-rooted ties with Latin America and the Caribbean.

In his closing remarks, Enrique Enriquez, Ambassador of Cuba, thanked the Katara Cultural Village Foundation for their support and emphasised music’s ability to transcend borders and unite people, reflecting the spirit of solidarity and creativity that defines Cuban