Madrid city council has banned the Kúpula se Mueve festival, which celebrates African and Latin culture, citing potential public disorder and noise complaints. Organisers, however, claim the decision is ideologically motivated.
Josias Ndanga, president of the organising association, stated: 'We’re convinced we’re being discriminated against on ideological grounds.' The festival had been held without incident in previous years, last taking place in 2017.
The ban follows a similar controversy in Jumilla, south-east Spain, where a conservative local authority prohibited Muslims from using public facilities for religious festivals. That decision drew widespread condemnation from political opponents, Muslim organisations, and the Catholic Church.
Kúpula se Mueve applied to hold the event in three separate locations but was refused each time, despite meeting all requirements, according to Ndanga. The local authority in the Madrid Río neighbourhood rejected the festival, claiming it involved 'an excessive use of public space' and was 'exclusive in character, suggesting it would be of little public interest.'
Critics accused Madrid's conservative mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, of censorship. Cuca Sánchez of the Más Madrid party said: 'Almeida’s government doesn’t like cultural diversity and has blocked this celebration on racist grounds.' Jorge Donaire of the socialist party added: 'They don’t want anything that springs from the community… What they like is macro-events that attract a lot of publicity.'
The festival, founded by immigrants from African nations, aims to promote integration and coexistence. Ndanga emphasised: 'The best way to counter the criminalisation of immigrants is to organise activities that reflect our desire to be part of this society.'
