With a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the Institute for Latin American Studies at Freie Universität Berlin (LAI) celebrated its 50th birthday on June 18. It was attended by numerous individuals from embassies, universities in many Latin American countries, partner institutes from all over the world, and researchers as well as many alumni of the institute. They paid respect to the work of the LAI, whose researchers did pioneering work in many areas in what was then a new field of research. From the beginning, emphasis was placed on cooperative work with researchers on site. The welcoming address was held in English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

In her keynote address, Professor Marianne Braig, a vice president at Freie Universität and long-standing researcher at the LAI, described various narratives relating to the LAI since it was founded in 1970, as well as some before the institute was founded. The stories referred to researchers in exile, feminism, and letters to the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Willy Brandt, as well as to generational changes and inner renewal that is required periodically. Braig also mentioned the struggles that were necessary, particularly in the early years, to ensure the continued existence of the institute. She is convinced that the next 50 years will be more secure for the institute than its first 30 years.

The musical interludes and mariachi band created a Latin American flair that encouraged the guests to let themselves be carried away and sing along.

This article originally appeared in German on June 24, 2022, in campus.leben, the online magazine of Freie Universität Berlin.