Preserving our cultural legacy is defending our identity and at the same time the freedom of Cuba, which is why Africa Day, which is commemorated every May 25, was celebrated on the Isle of Youth with countless initiatives.
The headquarters of the territorial delegation of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples in Nueva Gerona, hosted the activity that brought together hundreds of pineros, who were able to learn more about the culture, traditions and customs of the African peoples.
The celebration was animated by initiatives such as the Turbampineras de Corazón project, dedicated to promoting the use of the turban as a garment that expresses identity, style, beauty, glamor and empowerment of women; the plastic artist Carlos Cabrera Gutiérrez –The wolf– he created a mural reflecting the face of an African woman and the IlúAchéle folkloric company set the rhythm for the evening with traditional music and dance from that continent.
Precisely, the territory maintains a close historical and sentimental link with several of those sister nations that saw thousands of their children educated here and to whom many Pineros also helped defend their freedom against oppressors.
Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Juan Carlos Romero Elizalde, president of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution on the Island, and Reserve Colonel Edel Pérez González, led a representation of combatants, present at the meeting, who carried out an internationalist mission in nations such as Angola, Algeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zaire, the Congo, among others.
Both Juan Carlos and Edel referred to the selfless support of Cubans to the African peoples, firstly with internationalist missions of a military nature to contribute to the independence of their people and the preservation of their heritage, culture and traditions; while currently solidarity is maintained but in sectors such as health, education and other spheres.
Both combatants demonstrated the pride and great meaning that it represented for all those who participated in these deeds, contributing their grain of sand to the liberation of those people and against the poverty, inequality and savage exploitation to which they were subjected.
Later, Teresa Freyre, president of the National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists on the Island, highlighted the importance of always remembering this date, stating that the cultural legacy is the defense of identity. She stressed that taking care of our culture helps us defend Cuba and to It is essential to know the meaning of this day for us and pass it on to new generations so that it lasts over time.
The origin of the celebration dates back to this date, but in 1963, when 32 leaders of African states met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to form the Organization of African Unity, today called the African Union. A commemoration that refers to the achievements of the continent and invites us to reflect on the challenges that will arise for Africa in the near future.
Fidel Castro Ruz always highlighted the duty of compensation that Cubans have with this continent, for the crucial role played by Africans and their descendants in Cuba’s independence wars.
This continent has a vast cultural diversity, which is home to different languages and ancestral practices that include dances, songs and musical rhythms. The entry into Cuba of African slaves and their customs, lifestyle habits, religiosity, identification with nature and the use of medicinal plants, have left their mark on Cuban identity and culture based on an extensive process of transculturation.
