Pambazuka Festival 2026 - Celebrating World Swahili Day

Pambazuka Festival 2026 - Celebrating World Kiswahili Language Day

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Pambazuka Swahili Kultur e.V. invites you to the Pambazuka Festival at the Allerweltshaus in Cologne. To mark World Kiswahili Language Day, we’ll be celebrating the diversity of the Kiswahili language and the cultures associated with it—with music, storytelling, art, socializing, and a program for the whole family.

From 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., a lively festival day awaits you with live music, DJ sets, cultural exchange, children’s activities, and an exhibition. Performers on stage will include May Summer, Bibi Msimulizi, Kigamboni Community Charity, Tivane, and Steven Ouma & The Band. DJ Pato will set the right mood throughout the day.

There’s also a special program for children and families, featuring a film screening and a painting workshop in the courtyard.

A special highlight of the festival is the exhibition “Bouncing Back: Building Resilience in Times of Climate Change.” It was created as part of an international youth exchange between Zanzibar and Cologne and shows how young people and communities are coping with the challenges of climate change. The focus is on stories of resilience, creativity, mutual support, and concrete solutions from Zanzibar and Cologne.

The Pambazuka Festival is a place for meeting, learning, and celebrating together. It invites people of all generations and backgrounds to discover Kiswahili culture, make connections, and experience a day full of music, exchange, and community.

Free admission. Donations to support the work of Pambazuka Swahili Kultur e.V. are welcome.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Location: Allerweltshaus Köln, Geisselstraße 3-5, 50823 Cologne
Free admission, donations welcome