The Asia Africa Festival 2025 once again turned Bandung’s historic Asia Afrika Street into a stage of color, culture, and celebration. Thousands of visitors gathered to enjoy traditional parades, performances, and creative showcases from across the world.
More than just a cultural event, the festival reminded everyone of Bandung’s pivotal role in global diplomacy.
Nearly seven decades ago, this same city hosted an event that reshaped modern history, the Asian-African Conference of 1955, an international meeting that brought together newly independent nations to discuss peace and cooperation.
The Birth of the Bandung Spirit
The Asian-African Conference was held in Bandung from 18–24 April 1955 at the iconic Gedung Merdeka. It was chaired by Prime Minister Ali Sastroamidjojo and opened by President Soekarno, who delivered a powerful message of equality and unity among nations.
A total of 29 Asian and African countries attended the meeting, representing a collective hope for peace after years of colonialism. Indonesia initiated the idea for the conference during the Colombo Conference in 1954, with support from India, Egypt, Burma, and Sri Lanka.
Although some nations were initially uncertain, the shared vision of building cooperation outside the Cold War blocs soon united them.
At the time, the world was divided between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Bandung Conference offered a third path, one based on independence, mutual respect, and dialogue. It became a platform for countries that sought to determine their own destiny rather than follow the interests of global powers.
The Ten Principles of Bandung
One of the most significant achievements of the conference was the creation of the Dasasila Bandung, or Ten Principles of Bandung. This declaration outlined key values such as respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, equality among nations, and peaceful coexistence.
Beyond political ideals, these principles also called for stronger economic and social cooperation. The final communiqué encouraged developing countries to collaborate through technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and joint research efforts.
The spirit of Bandung inspired the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the 1960s, giving a collective voice to nations that refused to be drawn into Cold War rivalries.
It also strengthened solidarity between Asia and Africa, marking the beginning of a new era of diplomacy led by developing nations.
Why the Bandung Spirit Still Matters
The Bandung Spirit remains relevant today as a symbol of equality and peace. It showed the world that cooperation between nations is possible without domination or coercion. For Indonesia, hosting the 1955 conference elevated its standing as a leader in international diplomacy and peacebuilding.
The city of Bandung became known as a City of Peace, representing the triumph of collaboration over conflict. Through the Asia Africa Festival, that same spirit continues to live on, not in formal meetings, but through cultural performances, parades, and creative expression that unite people from different backgrounds.
As global tensions rise once again in the 21st century, the message from Bandung continues to resonate: dialogue and mutual respect are the most powerful tools for peace.
The Asia Africa Festival 2025 proves that the Bandung Spirit is not just a historical memory, but a living ideal that connects nations, generations, and cultures.
