Nicaragua necesita una cancion : Documentary, concert and discussion

Through documentary, music, and dialogue, this event explores Nicaragua's ongoing political crisis and its connection to the country's revolutionary past. By highlighting experiences of repression, exile, and resilience, it fosters critical reflection on peace, justice, human rights, and the role of culture in sustainable development, while creating opportunities for exchange between academics, artists, and diaspora communities.

In Nicaragua necesita una canción, Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy reflects on his trajectory from becoming one of the most emblematic musical voices of the Sandinista revolution to living in exile in Costa Rica four decades later. Speaking from exile, he reflects on the evolution of that revolutionary experience and on the continued role of music as a form of resistance, alongside younger musicians who have also faced persecution under the current government.

Ceshia Ubau is a Nicaraguan singer-songwriter featured in the documentary. Her work is deeply influenced by her roots, her experiences as a woman and a migrant, and her background in psychology, allowing her to address themes such as emotional health and the human rights of women, children, and migrants. After seven years of exile in Costa Rica, she currently resides in Granada, Spain.

Josue Monroy is a Nicaraguan singer-songwriter and event producer with over 15 years of experience, who’s also featured in the documentary. Co-founder of Monroy y Surmenage, he has contributed to the alternative and independent rock scene across Nicaragua, Central America, and Mexico. He currently lives in exile in Barcelona, Spain, after being arrested and expelled from Nicaragua in 2022.

Camilo Quintero is a Nicaraguan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, currently based in Europe. As a folklorist, his work involves the collection and preservation of traditional music, while also fusing it with metalcore. His music strongly shaped by its role in advocating for the rights of children and indigenous peoples, as well as environmental causes.

This event is part of the Global Engagement framework of the University of Antwerp. It is also part of a film-series organized by USOS (the University of Antwerp foundation for development cooperation) which intends to promote a global comprehension of resilience, including screenings on India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Europe. 

Schedule:

18h00: Documentary Screening

19h15: Joint Concert  - Ceshia Ubau, Josue Monroy and Camilo Quintero

20h00: Panel Discussion and Q&A

20h45: Reception with Nicaraguan dishes

Language:

Documentary: Spanish spoken with English subtitles

Discussion: English and Spanish

Location:

BorgerHub, Turnhoutsebaan 92, 2140 Antwerpen