The world-famous Guantanamera melody in a piano version by Minnesota-based musician Nachito Herrera closed today the celebration of Cuban Culture Day at the island's embassy in the United States.
As the award-winning Cuban musician expressed, that would be the best ending to an evening full of sentiment and symbolism, which began when those present sang the National Anthem of Cuba, whose lyrics were created by the patriot Perucho Figueredo and sung by the people of Bayamo (east) in the year 1868.
Initially named La Bayamesa, it is considered "a full song to the liberating insurrection and the abolition of slavery (...), as well as the highest and most genuine expression and symbol of our national culture," stated Decree No. 70 at the time. of 1980 of the Council of Ministers that established the Day.
Lillitsy Hernández, president of the National Council of the Performing Arts, gave a historical account of the anthem that “was like the Marseillaise for the Cuban revolutionaries.”
Tonight, Cubans residing in this country and Americans joined in the celebration that also featured excellent performances by poets Drew Anderson and Tatiana Ramírez.
Cuban Culture Day also added another ingredient here. In the morning, the Caribbean diplomatic representation team paid tribute to commanders Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto Che Guevara, to whom a day of remembrance is dedicated on the island every year from October 8 to 28.
In addition to the flowers placed for Camilo, the hero of a thousand battles who tragically disappeared on October 28, 1959, they welcomed little David Lorenzo who received his blue scarf as a Moncadista pioneer.
