OWL Afrofestival 2025

In the organizer's words:

Together for equitable access to water

August 25 to 31, 2025

We are delighted to announce the second edition of the OWL Afrofestival! From August 25 to 31, 2025, Bielefeld will be dedicated to intercultural dialog and sustainable development.
Under the motto "Sustainable and equitable access to water: challenges and solutions", the festival will bring together representatives from Burkina Faso and Germany to discuss innovative approaches to managing global water resources and promote long-term partnerships.

An international meeting for exchange and innovation

High-ranking delegations from Burkina Faso, including representatives from the Ministries of Water, Health and Research and the Secrétariat Permanent des Organisations Non Gouvernementales (SPONG), will take part in the action week. They will be supported by the NGO Apil, which is actively mobilizing civil society organizations.

In Germany, we are working closely with cooperation partners such as the German Red Cross (DRK), Arbeiterwohlfahrt e.V. and Synergiz to strengthen knowledge transfer and intercultural networking.

The program: A week full of inspiration

The action week is aimed at delegates and interested visitors and offers a varied program with workshops, discussions and cultural highlights.

Highlights of the week

• Daily events (Monday to Friday) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Bielefeld.
• Specialist visits to the municipal utilities, companies and Bielefeld University as well as a visit to Bad Salzuflen, a leading competence center for health tourism and water management in Germany.
• Leisure activities on Thursday to give participants time to relax and exchange ideas.
• Evening events: Communal dinner with music every evening of the week.

The festival day: Saturday, August 30th

The festival day is the highlight of the OWL Afrofestival and is open to the public. This is where cultural exchange, networking and inspiration come together.

Program items of the festival day

• Opening ceremony with greetings and presentation of the Burkinabe delegation.
• Cultural highlights: Music, dance, craftsmanship and traditional Burkinabe food.#
• Workshops and information stands: Interactive presentations on water management, recycling and health.
• Children's area: Creative and playful activities that promote environmental awareness.
• Culinary experience: An African marketplace offers a culinary journey through the diversity of African cuisine, including the traditional drink dolo.
• Networking Zone: A space for conversation and partnership building.

Why take part?
The OWL Afrofestival is a platform for real change.

Your benefits as a participant:

• Learn from each other through expert discussions and cultural encounters.
• Build new partnerships, e.g. between Burkinabe and German hospitals or universities.
• Develop solutions together to make access to water fairer and more sustainable.

Your commitment counts!

We cordially invite partner organizations and volunteer supporters to become part of the OWL Afrofestival. Together we can tackle global challenges such as access to water.

Why take part?

• Partnership: Contribute to the successful implementation of the festival with your know-how and resources.
• Volunteering: Help with the organization, support of the delegations or implementation of the events.

Your opportunities:

• Support with planning and logistics.
• Looking after international guests and delegations.
• Organizing workshops and information stands.