Bruno Barras Of Paraguay Promotes Ishir Ybytoso Culture In Vienna – OpEd
On September 27, 2024 was held in Vienna – Austria the Festival of Long Nights of Interculturality 2024, where Paraguayan indigenous culture was introduced among the participation of forty other countries.
Austria’s strategic location in the heart of Europe gives it a unique role as a hub of convergence of cultures. Vienna, in particular, with its vibrant history and artistic richness, has evolved as a living showcase of cultural diversity. The “Long Night of Interculturality” festival, sponsored by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO, celebrates precisely that diversity, emphasizing the value of inclusion and mutual respect between nations.
Vienna has become the musical capital of the world and Paraguay revealed its cultural richness and wealth of indigenous ethnography.
According to Pedro Escobar Medina, a distinguished journalist from Asuncion: “This prestigious festival, which brings together over 40 countries from around the world, offers a unique space where recent migrants from all continents can showcase their traditional garments in one place, fostering cultural exchange. On Friday, September 27, the opening ceremony of the event with the “Costumes of the World” parade took place in the Festsaal (Act Hall) of the Vienna City Hall (Wiener Rathaus in German), a majestic building located in the first district that is the center of the capital of Austria.
In an event that highlighted the richness and cultural diversity of the five continents, Paraguay left an indelible mark on its first participation in the “Long Intercultural Nights 2024”. A group of 17 compatriots, dressed in typical traditional costumes of their country, represented Paraguay with pride and dignity, integrating into the multicultural atmosphere of Vienna, the world’s music capital.
The festival “Long Nights of Interculturality 2024” was organized by the International Organization for Cultural Diversity (ICDO) and is considered the largest cultural event in Vienna, held annually for a week in September. In addition to parades, the event offers music, art, round tables, cinema and gastronomy, all in an environment that celebrates diversity and promotes interculturality.
Among the Paraguayan representation stands out the special participation of the leader and shaman Ishir Ybytoso, Bruno Barras, who traveled from Paraguay to join the celebration. Their presence was a living testimony to Paraguay’s ancestral traditions and their commitment to preserving Ishir Culture. Barras brought a spiritual and authentic touch to national representation, connecting the present with the country’s historical roots. Barras delivered a necklace made of seeds in his native Carcha Balut, a plumeric art necklace, a small handicraft folder in ñanduti in a picture to Josipa Palace president of the organization (ICDO). Paraguayan gastronomy wasn’t missing either, thechiperitasserved to the public our popular Paraguayan chipa who delighted with pleasure. Paraguay was represented not only by the original peoples, the typical clothing, the crafts but also the gastronomy.
The participation of Paraguay in this event would not have been possible without the dedication and coordination of Isabel Arevalos, Paraguayan cultural manager based in Austria, who, together with a group of compatriots residing in the Alpine country, made all efforts to ensure that Paraguay was represented at this international event. Their work has been instrumental in opening doors to future cultural collaborations, and Paraguay’s participation in the 2025 edition is already glimpsed with enthusiasm, aiming to continue positioning the country on the global stage in the cultural realm.
Vienna, cradle of Cultures
The main objective of this event was to promote cultural expressions from different parts of the world in an environment of respect and cooperation, highlighting their contemporary value and encouraging genuine exchange among communities. Through varied activities such as music, art, film and gastronomy, the festival seeks to bring people together and emphasize the importance of diversity in cultural development.
An Event of Great Magnitude
The ICDO team has worked hard to consolidate this festival, which had the support of more than 30 embassies, international organizations, NGOs and volunteers, and the participation of more than 300 performers and 100 artists. The “Long Nights of Interculturality”; is not only a cultural event, but a space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and recognition of the richness that each culture brings to the world.
According to Isabel Arevalos, a cultural activist and artist: “Paraguay’s participation in the 2024 event has not only been a cause of national pride, but also an opportunity to strengthen cultural ties and project the country on the international stage. With this first experience, the Paraguayan delegation is already preparing to continue highlighting in future editions, proudly representing the identity and cultural diversity of the country.”
The Paraguayan community in Vienna, who followed very closely all the cultural event on Saturday Sept. 28 offered a farewell to the representative of the original peoples Don Bruno Barras consistent in a meeting of compatriots and friends of Paraguay to share a succulent beef roast with Paraguayan traditionalbori – bori ryguazusoup organized by Julio Franco and his wife Denise Waldbrunner.
Paraguayan culture will continue to flourish and be promoted in Vienna, thanks to outstanding teamwork and leadership skills that the Paraguayan community in Austria has embodied over the last three decades.