Balkan Trafik Festival - A Symphony of Cultures in Brussels

As Europe’s political landscape evolves, Wieërs sees the festival as a key platform for integration and understanding, a celebration that enriches Brussels and spotlights the cultural dynamism of the Balkan region.  

He first became aware of the Western Balkans’ situation in 2002, just after the war had ended when he dined at a small restaurant in his neighbourhood established by an Albanian Kosovar who had fled the war in his country. Through this émigré’s eyes, he learned much about what was happening in a part of Europe that previously had been hidden behind an iron wall. 

This man was a sort of ambassador, Wieërs realised. “I recognised that we need to get to know our neighbours better, now that the old Cold War walls are down,” he reflected. The basic idea was to expand the knowledge of our people about what is happening beyond our borders. It’s a traffic of culture, not of something negative. 

“And that is where our vision and that of the EU overlaps,” Wieërs added in a separate interview. “The support we receive from the EU is not just financial. It is moral. We are co-travellers.” 

From 25-27 April 2024, the festival presented an array of eclectic acts. Stars like Manu Chao with their global influence resonated with the festival’s mission of multiculturalism and community. 

The festival inclusively represents not only Balkan states but also nations like Ukraine and Moldova, stressing the expanding scope of the European cultural and political landscape. The inclusion of these countries underscores the festival’s role in fostering European unity through cultural exchange. 

Kalush Orchestra, the Eurovision 2022 winners, showcased the youthful energy of Ukraine’s music scene. Their music—a blend of traditional Ukrainian elements with rap sounds and dynamic dance—demonstrates the festival’s innovative spirit. 

The Western Balkans were represented perhaps most vividly by Zarina. Her music, inspired by collaboration and a tapestry of traditions, draws listeners into the depths of Balkan soul, with songs from Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and beyond. Her melodies, steeped in tradition, resonate with the contemporary spirit of the festival, offering a bridge between the historic and the modern. 

Joining Zarina in the line-up was the Greek ethnic-rock band Koza Mostra. Their energetic blend of genres captures the festival’s essence of innovation within tradition, turning every performance into a celebratory act of rebellion. 

The Balkan tradition is already making waves in Western Europe, as evidenced by the success of bands like the Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra, the Amsterdam Klezmer Band, and the Fabijan Balkan Brass Band. All three, based in Western Europe but proudly draw on various Eastern European musical heritages. 

But perhaps the most defining spirit of Balkan Trafik is seen when bands like Fabijan’s Balkan Brass Band descend from the stage to blend with the crowd. Here, music becomes a living entity, breathing the same air, sharing the same space, and embracing each audience member in a personal serenade. This isn’t just a performance; it’s an intimate exchange between artist and audience, a shared story told in the universal language of music. 

This is the essence of Balkan Trafik: a festival that reaches out, invites in, and celebrates the cultural heartbeats of the Balkans with open arms and dancing steps. It’s a cultural phenomenon where the music is not just heard; it’s felt—up close and personal.