Festival of cultural diversity at WUM

Published:
A large group of performers standing on a stage in colorful traditional and formal costumes, posing in front of a screen with the word “THANK YOU.”
As every year in May, our university was the venue of a unique event that shows the richness of traditions, music, dance and art of various regions of the world and the international nature of our academic community. During a concert held as part of the "Diversity x WUM" initiative, international students and guest artists performed on the stage of Klub Medyka on Oczki Street.

The concert program included performances inspired by the cultures of Mexico, Iran (Persia), Poland, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Korea. Each of them was not only an artistic show, but also a story about history, identity and values that unite people despite linguistic, cultural and geographical differences. The event was hosted by students of the English Division: Brendan Tadiwa Ngandu and Nicole Doyle from Ireland.

What could we see this year?

  • Mexican folk dances and songs performed by the Monarka group – artists living in Warsaw who share the richness of Mexican culture through dance, music and traditional handicrafts.
  • Graceful Persian dances inspired by the centuries-old tradition of today's Iran performed by our English Division students.
  • Characteristic Persian instruments and sounds presented by the Hamdam duo. Dariush Rasouli played the ney, dotara and tar, while Mohammadreza Ghafari played the daf and dhol.
  • Classic Polish folk dances performed by the "Warszawa" Folk Dance Ensemble from the University of Physical Education. Folk dances have been taught at the university since its foundation in the 1920s. The ensemble in its current form was established in the 1970s and successive generations of students continue this fine tradition.
  • Bharatanatyam – a traditional Indian dance performed by Arpita Banerjee, an artist from Calcutta (India) who currently lives in Warsaw. She presented "Kali Kauthvam" – a traditional dance dedicated to the goddess Kali.
  • Performances by students from India, where each region has its own style of music and dance, and together they form the colorful spirit of the country's culture. The Team India from our university conveyed the incredible energy of young people from this country in a modern way.
  • A show prepared by students of master Cheolin Kang's taekwondo club. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of Korea. Master Cheolin Kang holds the 8th dan rank. He was the coach of the Polish national team, and currently serves as the chairman of the Technical Committee of the Polish Taekwondo Association.
  • A performance by students from Pakistan – the first part was a vocal one, inspired by traditional Pakistani music, whose style emphasizes emotions, and the second part included a dance showing the lively and energetic side of Pakistani culture. 
  • A performance by students from Nigeria, who neatly combined traditional energy with modern sounds. It was a performance full of rhythm, expression and joy. 

Open and colorful university

The event, which has become a permanent part of the life of our community, is an expression of our university's openness to intercultural dialogue and, at the same time, emphasizes the importance of diversity as one of the key values of the academic environment. The annual concert provides an opportunity for students and employees of the WUM to get to know one another and promote  integration.
Such initiatives also show that our university is not only a place to educate future medical staff, but also a community based on mutual respect, cooperation and openness.

The event was attended by representatives of the university authorities and faculties: Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, the Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investment, Prof.  Paweł Włodarski, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Jacek Sieńko, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs of the English Division, Prof. Krzysztof Czajkowski, the chairman of the University Admissions Board and Dr Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska, the Vice Dean for Obstetrics at the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

What else lies ahead?

We invite you to the next part of this year's edition of Diversity x WUM on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Banacha Campus. During the outdoor event, you will be able to visit the stands set up by  students from different countries, learn about their traditions and traditional clothing, and try traditional dishes prepared by Warsaw restaurateurs. 

Photos: Bartosz Gieraziński, International Federation of Medical Students‘ Associations IFMSA-Poland; BKiP WUM 
 

Two performers on stage wearing brightly colored folkloric dresses, captured mid-movement under theatrical lighting.
Three performers dancing on stage, wearing traditional costumes, with one person holding a wide-brimmed hat during a choreographed movement.
Two performers on stage wearing hats and red scarves, moving in unison under warm stage lights.
A group of performers standing in a row on stage, wearing matching traditional embroidered costumes with colorful skirts.
A group of performers standing in a row on stage, wearing matching traditional embroidered costumes with colorful skirts.
A solo performer on stage wearing a colorful traditional outfit, holding arms in a stylized dance pose.
Two seated musicians on stage, one playing a string instrument and the other a frame drum, under red stage lighting.
A group of performers on stage wearing dark outfits and scarves, holding raised hands in a synchronized dance pose
Two people seated on stage with microphones and music stands, appearing to speak or present during a live event.
Four performers on stage moving rhythmically in a line, illuminated by purple and pink stage lights.
A person standing on stage holding a microphone and reading from a sheet of paper during an event.
A person standing on stage with a microphone, reading from notes, with a decorative screen in the background.
A group of performers posing together on stage, wearing colorful traditional garments after a performance.
Children performing a taekwondo demonstration on a stage, with one child executing a kick toward a training pad held by an instructor. A large screen in the background displays the text “Taekwondo – South Korean Martial Arts” and official logos.
Two performers on a stage execute a synchronized martial arts sequence, with extended arm movements, under red stage lighting and in front of a decorative backdrop.
Two adults standing on a stage during a formal event; one person speaks into a handheld microphone while a presentation slide with text is displayed on a large screen behind them.
Three people are sitting in the darkness in the audience.