Addis Ababa, February 20, 2025.- Members of the Cuban Embassy in Ethiopia participated in the celebration of International Mother Language Day, an event organized at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The day brought together diplomatic representatives from various nations, who highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting linguistic diversity as an essential part of the cultural heritage of humanity.
The event was attended by the Ambassador of Cuba in Ethiopia, Meylin Suárez Álvarez; the Ambassador of Cuba to the African Union, Lucas Domingo Hernández; and other members of the Cuban diplomatic corps. During the day, various cultural and artistic manifestations were presented that reflected the richness of the mother tongues of countries such as China, Bangladesh, Russia, Armenia, among others.
Attendees enjoyed traditional presentations, oral storytelling and artistic exhibitions that illustrated how mother tongues contribute to the identity and social cohesion of peoples. In addition, interventions were carried out highlighting the need to preserve languages at risk of disappearing and to promote their teaching in new generations.
The celebration of International Mother Language Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and celebrated every February 21, seeks to raise awareness among the international community about the need to safeguard linguistic diversity and ensure that mother tongues continue to be transmitted from generation to generation.
(EmbaCuba-Etiopía)