In both Lyon and Brussels, SINGA recently organized two significant events that brought together people from all backgrounds around inclusion and diversity. The Bazar Festival in Lyon and the SINGA Festival in Brussels gathered talents, stories, and cultures in powerful moments of sharing.
Under the colorful hall of HEAT, a semi-open space combining food and lifestyle programming, located in a former boilerworks in the south of Confluence in Lyon, from September 20 to 22, 2024, an event mixing gastronomy, art, and performances. SINGA Lyon hosted the second edition of the Bazar Festival, an event mixing gastronomy, art, and performances. With a packed program, this festival created a space where cultural boundaries disappear and where everyone can shine, regardless of their origin. Julie Lambert, coordinator of SINGA Lyon, summed it up well: “The Bazar is an illustration of the society we want to build, a place where differences transcend to make way for human encounters.”
Over 2,000 festival-goers wandered between a creators’ market, live concerts, and interactive workshops. The group Yalla Sawa enchanted the audience with its African and Middle Eastern rhythms, while artists like Ash and Destiny left a lasting impression with their performances. The SINGA van, meanwhile, offered an immersive experience into the stories of community members, accompanied by dishes from Ethiopia, Syria, the Caribbean, and Colombia.
Children also had their moment with fun activities, while the festival ended in a lively display of African dances and percussion led by the AfroMundo association.
On September 19, 2024, Brussels also resonated with the rhythm of diversity. In the courtyard of the Maison des Cultures de Molenbeek, over 450 people participated in a festive evening where solidarity and inclusion were in the spotlight. SINGA ambassadors shared their experiences, weaving even stronger bonds between newcomers and local residents.
The evening featured concerts by Les Portes and Touko Sari, followed by a DJ set by Paloma Luna, who lit up the dance floor. A solidarity initiative was also implemented, allowing attendees to choose whether to pay for themselves or to offer a meal to someone else, reinforcing the spirit of mutual aid that animated the celebration.
These two events, in Lyon and Brussels, reflect SINGA’s vision: a society where inclusion is essential. By bringing together cultures and talents, SINGA creates spaces where everyone finds their place. Whether through festivals, workshops, or social projects, the goal remains the same: to build a fairer society where diversity is a strength.