Dear Friends of the Medellín International Poetry Festival,
It is a great honor and a profound joy for me to participate once again in this remarkable celebration of poetry, humanity, and hope. As the only participant from Uzbekistan, I feel both humbled and proud to stand among you—poets, thinkers, and dreamers from all corners of the world—who come together not merely to read verses, but to reaffirm our faith in the human soul and the power of artistic expression.
Though our views and experiences may differ, I stand in deep solidarity with all of you and with the thousands of friends around the world who believe that poetry can open minds, heal divisions, and build bridges between peoples and nations.
The International Poetry Festival of Medellín is much more than a literary event. It is a movement of conscience, a moral and spiritual force that continues to shine as a beacon of peace, dialogue, and cultural freedom. In a world increasingly shadowed by violence, censorship, and indifference, this festival reminds us that the poet’s voice—humble yet persistent—can still reach the heart of humanity.
I wish to urge the Government of Colombia and the municipalities of Medellín to continue supporting and funding this extraordinary initiative, which stands as one of the most vital expressions of artistic freedom and international solidarity anywhere in the world. The Medellín Poetry Festival belongs not only to Colombia but to all humanity. Its survival and growth are a matter of global cultural responsibility.
For me personally, the Medellín Festival has been a source of immense inspiration and moral strength. It has encouraged me to become a freer, braver, and better human being. Sixteen years ago, my participation in this festival planted a seed that would later grow into a unique creative initiative in my own country—a writer and artist residency program in Uzbekistan, launched in 2018.
Since its founding, this independent residency has hosted over one hundred poets, writers, and artists from five continents. It has offered a rare platform for intercultural exchange, understanding, and collaboration—a small mirror of the spirit that Medellín represents. Sadly, despite its success and international recognition, it now faces the risk of being silenced due to official ignorance and lack of institutional support. Uzbekistan, even today, has no international poetry festival of its own, and independent cultural efforts remain fragile and vulnerable.
This is why I believe festivals like Medellín are not only vital but sacred. They keep alive the belief that words can resist violence, that empathy can overcome fear, and that art can unite where politics divides. The Medellín Festival has become a moral compass for poets and cultural workers around the world, reminding us that poetry is not a luxury—it is a necessity of the soul and a weapon of peace.
I therefore appeal to UNESCO, PEN International, international donors, cultural foundations, and all friends of poetry worldwide to extend their support to ensure that this festival continues to flourish, to grow, and to inspire new generations of poets and dreamers. Every poem read here, every voice heard, is a victory over silence and despair.
Let us protect this festival not only for ourselves but for those who come after us—for the children who will one day inherit a freer and more compassionate world. Let us continue to believe, as poets have always believed, that words can heal, art can liberate, and solidarity can transform the course of history.
With love, admiration, and unwavering hope,
Azam Abidov
Poet, Translator, Cultural Organizer
Republic of Uzbekistan
