BelSU’s La Gozadera Festival Proves Unites Students Across Continents

Organised by the International Information Centre at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU), the Latin American Community, and the Spanish Conversation Club of the International Student Office, the event attracted participants from Russia, Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ecuador.

The first day was dedicated to sports beloved across Latin America. The Latinazo Futsal and Basketball Championship featured student teams not only from South America but also from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, representing BelSU and V. Shukhov Belgorod State Technological University. In football, the Mariana team claimed the first-place cup, followed by Ulises in second place and Michel in third. Felipe Gomez Mejia Anderson, a student at the Pedagogical Institute, was named best player. In basketball, the Cosmos team secured the first-place cup, with Chaspados taking second and the Lakers third. Eric David Chango Muisin from the BelSU Medical Institute was awarded best player.

The second day, titled Voces del Carnaval (Voices of Carnival) celebrated the carnival culture of Latin America. Exhibition stands showcased not only the history and traditions of the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Barranquilla (Colombia), Oruro (Bolivia) and Inti Raymi (Ecuador), but also offered visitors the chance to try on costumes and accessories, play traditional games and learn dance moves. The best exhibition stands were determined by anonymous audience voting. First place went to the team presenting Brazil (captained by Ribeiro Sanches Rafael, a student at the BelSU Institute of Engineering and Digital Technologies), second place to the Colombian stand (captained by Fuentes Ramírez Josué, a student at the BelSU Institute of Economics and Management), and third place to the Bolivian stand (captained by López Lucana Sorel André, a student at the preparatory department).

The festival concluded with the Viva Latino gala concert. Olga Lyutova, Director of the International Information Centre within the Department of International Cooperation, and Arina Shestakova, Youth Leader of the International Friendship Club of the Belgorod Region, addressed the participants with words of welcome.

“The festival has once again demonstrated how diverse and vibrant the culture of Latin American countries is, and, of course, how talented, multifaceted and unique each of you is,” said Lyutova. “This festival has also shown your ability to make friends and come together—a quality that matters in difficult times as much as in joyful ones. Viva Latino!”

Students from BelSU, V. Shukhov Belgorod State Technological University, Belgorod State Institute of Arts and Culture and the Shukhov Lyceum performed traditional Latin American songs and dances alongside modern vocal and instrumental compositions, including samba, salsa, rock, cumbia, folk melodies and dances.

Though the Latin American Culture Festival has drawn to a close, BelSU’s International Association Festivals continue. Before the end of the academic year, the university will host the Light of Nowruz festival, celebrating Turkic and Iranian cultures, followed by AfroFest, a festival of Central and Southern African cultures.