Saïdou Abatcha, Cameroonian-French storyteller and performer;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April 2026, the third edition of the Awula Awula Festival, organised by Altercadance, took place in Esch-sur-Alzette, bringing together around 300 attendees over two days.
The festival, themed “African Tales”, focused on oral storytelling traditions, combining spoken word, music and dance. The name “Awula Awula”, meaning “what are you listening to? beautiful stories” and “the art of living”, reflects the festival’s focus on storytelling and promoted African culture in Luxembourg while creating a space for dialogue between communities. Performances were presented in French and Luxembourgish.
“The idea for the festival came from a personal need. As a mother, I was looking for storytelling performances for my children, but at the time there were very few options available in Luxembourg,” said Modestine Ekete, organiser of the Awula Awula Festival, in an interview with Chronicle.lu. “I wanted them to experience stories brought to life by artists, not just through books. When we launched the first edition in 2023, the response was very positive, which encouraged us to continue. Today, it has become an event for everyone - children, parents and a wider audience.”
On Saturday evening, the programme combined readings, storytelling, music and dance, with performers inviting the audience to engage and react throughout the show. The second part of the evening introduced a lighter tone, blending humour, narrative and dance, before the event concluded with an Afrobeat concert, which drew many attendees. Earlier in the day, workshops in African dance, painting and percussion attracted both children and adults, while food and drink stands remained open, creating a steady flow of visitors throughout the venue.
The festival featured sixteen artists from a range of countries. Among them was Cameroonian-French storyteller and performer Saïdou Abatcha, whom Modestine Ekete highlighted as one of the standout guests. The programme also included artists from Luxembourg, France, Burkina Faso, India and Guinea, spanning disciplines such as storytelling, music, dance and poetry.
“The Awula Awula festival brings together people of different generations and communities in Luxembourg. Storytelling itself brings people together,” said Modestine Ekete. “We see that people stay for longer, take part in workshops and follow the programme until the end. It also contributes to the cultural landscape in Luxembourg, as these stories resonate with a wide audience.”
According to the organiser, audiences included both families and individual visitors, many of whom spent the entire day at the festival.
