KUYUM Dance Platform

Neo-African dance in Berlin

The KUYUM Tanzplattform is a multi-day festival for contemporary dance based in Berlin. It highlights neo-African choreography and fosters collaboration between international and local artists of African descent from the diaspora and non-African creators who incorporate neo-African dance practices into their work.

Defining neo-African dance

This refers to a form of contemporary dance that draws on the movement languages, aesthetic principles, and techniques of various African cultures, evolving them within the context of the present and the diaspora. The festival presents these forms free from Western clichés. In addition to stage productions, the program includes interdisciplinary workshops, community panels, concerts, and discussion formats.

Founded in 2021 by Felix Dompreh

Ghanaian-born artist and cultural manager Felix Dompreh, who lives in Berlin, initiated the platform in 2021 and has served as its artistic director and CEO ever since. The word "Kuyum" comes from the Kabye language in Togo and means unity or togetherness. The festival is funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.

Past editions

Previous editions have focused on themes such as Afrofuturism (2024) and Afro-somatics (2025). The platform collaborates with Berlin cultural institutions such as the Uferstudios, the Theaterhaus Berlin, and the Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT).

The 2026 edition

For the sixth time, the festival will feature a kick-off at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt on September 12 and 13, followed by the main program from September 16 to 20 at the Uferstudios Berlin. The program includes nine dance productions, including two world premieres and five Berlin premieres, complemented by workshops, networking events, and discussion spaces.