Ambassador’s Address on the Occasion of Cuban National Culture Day. University of The Bahamas, 20 October
Good afternoon, everyone.
It is a pleasure to join you for this gathering on a date of great significance to Cuba: 20 October, Cuban National Culture Day. I would like to express my gratitude to the University of The Bahamas, and particularly to the Department of Foreign Languages, for hosting the celebration of Cuban National Culture Day, as it does every year. This year, the celebration has even extended over two days. I understand that yesterday you enjoyed the film Havana Station, and today we will have the pleasure of attending this cultural gala.
For Cubans, 20 October holds special significance. On that day in 1868, in the city of Bayamo, a march that would become our National Anthem was performed for the first time. It was then known as La Bayamesa. Its lyrics were written by Pedro Figueredo, affectionately known as Perucho, amid the popular enthusiasm that accompanied the liberation of the city by Cuban independence forces.
This is no minor historical coincidence. Cuba celebrates its culture through an event in which music, poetry and the aspiration for independence converged in a single act. From its very beginnings, Cuban identity has been closely linked to the determination to achieve freedom and build a sovereign and independent nation.
That is why, when Cubans speak of cubanía, we are referring to much more than the place where we were born. We are speaking of a shared history, a collective sensibility, a distinctive way of creating and relating to the world, and a deep love for our homeland. We are also speaking of an identity shaped by the encounter of different roots and traditions, including Spanish and African heritage, which have left a profound mark on our language, music, cuisine and forms of expression.
As Fernando Ortiz, regarded as Cuba’s third discoverer, once explained through his celebrated metaphor, Cuba is a great ajiaco—a traditional Cuban stew in which a diversity of ingredients and influences come together, giving rise to what we know as Cuban identity.
This diversity is one of the greatest treasures of Cuban culture. It can be heard in son, danzón, guajira and bolero; it finds expression in dance, the visual arts, theatre and cinema; and it flourishes in literature and poetry, where our traditions, aspirations and hopes are explored and reinterpreted.
Culture is not merely what is displayed on a stage or preserved in a museum. It is also present in everyday life, in the knowledge passed down from one generation to the next, and in a community's ability to recognise itself in its own expressions. Culture is an ongoing creative process. It draws strength from memory, but it must also engage in dialogue with the present in order to remain alive.
In this regard, it is essential to recall the thought of Fidel Castro, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, whose centenary we are commemorating this year. Fidel understood that the development of a nation could not be measured solely by its material resources or economic indicators. It must also be assessed in terms of the opportunities it provides people to learn, create, access knowledge and participate in cultural life.
In his reflections on culture, Fidel described it as the nation's shield and sword and maintained that it was the first thing that had to be saved, even in the most difficult circumstances. These ideas express a fundamental conviction: culture is not a luxury reserved for times of prosperity. It is a human necessity and a source of spiritual strength.
His legacy in this field is closely associated with the defence of education, the promotion of reading, artistic training and public access to cultural expression. In 1961, his meetings with writers and artists, known as Words to the Intellectuals, placed at the centre of public debate the relationship between artistic creation and the social transformation taking place in Cuba.
It is no coincidence that Cuban writer Miguel Barnet once stated: “The architect of Cuban cultural policy, the driving force behind it, is Fidel... All the cultural opportunities we enjoy today are thanks to Fidel.”
For Cuba, art, knowledge and memory help uphold human dignity. Culture has served as a form of spiritual resistance, but it has also been a source of enjoyment, imagination and human connection. A ballet performance imbued with the grace of prima ballerina Alicia Alonso can be a caress to the soul. A bolero by Benny Moré can bring to mind a love story. A poem by Dulce María Loynaz can help us understand an era. A play by Héctor Quintero can challenge us to question our own assumptions. In each case, artistic creation broadens our capacity to feel, think and understand others.
This reflection is particularly relevant to you, university students. In a world shaped by technological change, the rapid circulation of information and constant contact among societies, understanding one's own culture and engaging with those of other peoples are essential tools. A university education is not solely about acquiring professional knowledge. It also involves developing sensitivity, critical thinking and a willingness to listen to different perspectives.
For this reason, cultural dialogue between Cuba and The Bahamas is valuable far beyond commemorative events. Our countries share the Caribbean space and face a common challenge: preserving our identities while participating in an increasingly interconnected world. Exchanges among universities, artists, researchers and students can help us understand one another better and discover new opportunities for cooperation.
Learning about a country's music, literature and history allows us to approach its people beyond stereotypes. Likewise, studying the experiences of our neighbours helps us understand that the Caribbean, with its diversity of languages, traditions and historical experiences, is much more than a geographical region. It is a space of creativity, exchange and shared memory.
Celebrating Cuban National Culture Day outside Cuba also reaffirms that identity does not disappear with distance. It remains alive when it is shared, studied and brought into dialogue with new audiences. That is why we are grateful that this celebration gives us the opportunity to share part of our history and cultural heritage with younger generations in The Bahamas.
Allow me to conclude with a simple thought: culture belongs to the past because it preserves our memory; to the present because it gives meaning to our experiences; and to the future because it allows us to imagine new possibilities.
To honour Cuban culture means recognising the journey we have travelled, valuing the creativity of our people and accepting the responsibility of passing this heritage on to future generations while allowing it to grow and evolve. It also means remaining open to dialogue with other cultures, confident that understanding our differences can bring us closer together and that mutual respect provides a solid foundation for peaceful coexistence.
Thank you very much.
(EmbaCuba Bahamas)