Rethinking the South - A symposium with interdisciplinary perspectives

© Goethe-Institut Salvador-Bahia
3 March 2026
Closes: 5 March 2026
Rethinking the South addresses the central issues of our time: the consequences of colonial history, life in increasingly densely populated cities and the effects of climate change. The three-day symposium invites participants to develop new perspectives on global interrelationships.
The event marks the conclusion of a three-year thematic residency programme initiated by the foundation KfW Stiftung in collaboration with Vila Sul at the Goethe-Institut Salvador-Bahia (Brazil). Based in the region of Bahia and its strong Afro-diasporic influences, KfW Stiftung and Vila Sul designed a transcontinental residency programme that addressed questions of social coexistence. During the symposium in Frankfurt, artists, thinkers and indigenous activists discuss their work, experiences and research approaches in film and performance contributions as well as moderated discussions. How do different realities of life and forms of knowledge shape our understanding of the world?
With Deji Akinpelu, Patti Anahory, Karla Claudio, Diego Crux, Kokou Ferdinand Makouvia, Nyancho NwaNri, Odun Orimolade, Lisa C Soto, Sao Sreymao, Huda Tayob
With contributions from Xohãhi Pataxó, Araui poá Pataxó and Uine Lopes
Moderated by Yvette Mutumba, Co-Founder and Executive Director Contemporary And (C&)
Accompanying the moderated panel discussions and artistic contributions, individual film works will be presented on all three days, including the documentary Finding Lagos in Brazil by Deji Akinpelu and artistic film works by Sao Sreymao, Karla Claudio and Lisa C Soto.
Individual formats of the programme will be documented and subsequently made available online on the KfW Stiftung’s YouTube channel. The event will be held in English. Contributions in Portuguese will be translated simultaneously.
The symposium has been developed and organised by KfW Stiftung in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Salvador-Bahia.
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