Harlem, New York, 23 August 2017. With the presence of a large group of representatives from various sectors of this community, the Harlem Week Closing Gala and the Harlem-Havana Cultural Festival took place.
The event, held at Harlem Central Hospital, located in the heart of this New York neighborhood, was attended by the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the UN, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo and other members of the diplomatic mission of the Caribbean nation. During the event, there were several moments of great interest for the audience, outstanding among which are the award-giving to several leading figures in politics, culture and the community, the performance of an excellent jazz band and a fashion show combining pieces of local and Cuban designers.
All speakers had words of recognition for the contribution made by the different nationalities that reside there, and stressed the bonds of brotherhood uniting this community with Cuba.
The Cuban Ambassador presented one of the community awards to Harlem congressman, originally from the Dominican Republic, Hon. Adriano Espaillat. Also, in her words of appreciation for being invited to the event and to the award-giving ceremony, Rodríguez Camejo referred to the strong ties of friendship that have united Cuba with Harlem for many years and recalled passages from the visits of the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, to this community, for which he always felt special affection.
Congressman Espaillat spoke about the friendly ties uniting the Cuban and the Dominican peoples and recalled that over four hundred years ago a Dominican Indian chief, Hatuey, was the first to kindle the flame of rebellion and struggle for freedom in Cuba.
Among the cultural attractions that enlivened the celebration, the participants had the opportunity to enjoy performances by Afro-Cuban choral and dance group "Obini-Batá" and a painting exhibition by artist Eduardo Roca "Choco", who was also at the event. These and other exponents of the Cuban culture were part of the artistic delegation of the island that traveled to New York as special guests to the Festival, with a program of activities that lasted from August 12 to 23.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.