Hay Festival Cartagena 2025

Sani Ladan (Cameroon) is an anti-racism activist, pan-Africanist, human rights defender and expert in international relations. He is also the creator of the podcast África en 1 click, designed to offer Spanish speakers a view of the African continent, talking about its history, literature, culture and geopolitics. He is also the author of the book La luna está en Duala y mi destino en el conocimiento, which tells the story of his migratory experience, from his hometown of Duala to Spain, aged just 15. En conversación con Claudia Ayola.

A look at the world through non-hegemonic narratives. We will get to know more about the diversity of the great African continent with Sani Ladan (Cameroon), an expert in international relations and author of the podcast África en 1 click, and the philosopher and writer Karima Ziali (Morocco) will talk about the migratory links between Spain and North Africa, and the reality of the diaspora. In conversation with Diego Aretz.

Mireille Fanon-Mendès-France (France) is a fearless speaker, ready to say exactly what she thinks. This jurist, lecturer in literature and anti-racist and anti-colonial activist is one of the most important voices in emancipatory theory and struggle: “Emancipation is not magical thinking, it demands assuming rupture”. She chairs the Frantz Fanon Foundation, continuing in the footsteps of her father, an essential author in terms of post-colonial theory: “All colonised peoples have the right to defend themselves.” Sheila talks to Sani Ladan.

Simultaneous interpretation from French to Spanish available

The limits of the law in the face of the most serious crimes are the basis for this conversation involving Philippe Sands (UK), a jurist and promotor of the concept of ecocide as an international crime; Anna Rubesame (USA), expert in transitional justice; and Julieta Lemaitre (Colombia), JEP magistrate. They will talk to the human rights defender Juanita Goebertus. When the legal files are full of horrors, it is time to think about how justice can accompany truth and reconciliation processes; especially in countries such as Colombia, where the law has become a tool for social reconstruction.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

When writers from the global South take their pens to the topic of the West, it rarely comes out looking good. On this topic, the essayist and novelist Pankaj Mishra (India) is one of the most lucid and incisive voices of our times. In Age of Anger he traces the links between contemporary violence and the rise of individualism and capitalism; while in The World After Gaza, he criticises the global racial order imposed by the West.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

Part I

María Corina Machado in conversation with Michael Stott

María Corina Machado (Venezuela) won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Since becoming a member of parliament in 2010, Machado has become the main figure in opposition to Nicolás Maduro, and she is currently the leader of the Venezuelan democratic movement. This conversation will last 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of questions from the audience.

María Corina Machado will participate virtually

Part II

Debate: Venezuela Today and Possible Senarios

A 40 minute debate will take place on the current situation of Venezuela and the region and it's possible future scenarios, with the participation of: Javier Lafuente (Spain), director of the Américas for El País; Daniel Lozano (España), ccorrespondent for El Mundo en las Américas; Luz Mely Reyes (Venezuela), journalist, writer, analyst and the director and cofounder of the digital media outlet Efecto Cocuyo. Moderated by Michael Stott (United Kingdom), editor for Latin America for The Financial Times.

After the ceasifre agreement between Israel and Hamas, a new era has opened up for the people of Gaza: to build a peace amidst the rubble of war and barbarism, all in a context of the most powerful uncertainty. What the future will bring will be the subject of a discussion among journalist Catalina Gómez Ángel and Janne Teller, whose most recent novel, Justicia, is set against the backdrop of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. With the moderator José Manuel Acevedo.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

All events on Saturday, January 31st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.

Héctor Abad Faciolince and Catalina Gómez Ángel were together in a pizzeria in Kramatorsk —in the disputed region of Donetsk— when the building was hit by a Russian air attack. Both survived unhurt, but the journalist and writer Victoria Amelina, their guide and travel companion, died a victim of the Russian missiles. Ahora y en la hora is the story by Abad Faciolince of these events, his testimony to tragedy; a narrative about life, aging, death, war, violence and guilt.

All events on Sunday, February 1st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.

How much does peace cost in a country that has paid so much for war? After decades of pain, now is the moment to invest —economically, socially and morally— in building a sustainable and lasting peace. Francisco de Roux, former Chair of the Truth Commission, reflects on the ethical legacy of reconciliation; Julieta Lemaitre, JEP magistrate, analyses the challenges of transitional law; Bruce Mac Master, President of the ANDI, calls on the business community to join the peace process; and Marcela Meléndez analyses the social breaches that have resulted from the conflict, and which have not yet healed.

All events on Sunday, February 1st will be free for people with ID from the department of Bolívar. Complimentary tickets can be requested —up to capacity— at the box office of the Hay Festival (Centro de Convenciones) showing your identification on the same day the event is taking place.