The celebration of the 80th anniversary of the carnival troupe Los Marqueses de Atarés in the Havana municipality of Cerro, marked the beginning of the “Ruta de la Rumba” (Rumba Route), devised by the Timbalaye project with the support of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) and the National Cultural Heritage Council in recognition of the environments in which this musical and dance troupe has left its mark.
Before the drums sounded in one of the Havana neighborhoods with the greatest folk tradition, the poet Miguel Barnet, president of UNEAC, highlighted the contribution of the Atarés rumberos (troupe members) in the characterization and development of a cultural expression that someday, he predicted, should be designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Teacher and choreographer Ulises Mora evoked the rumbero lineage of Víctor Herrera, the founder of Los Marqueses, and Gonzalo Asencio (Tío Tom), author of popular songs such as Consuélate, A la fiesta de los caramelos no pueden ir los bombones and the fantastic guaguancó, Dónde están los cubanos.
The “Ruta de la Rumba” will travel across nearly all the country’s provinces next summer, after performances in several Italian and Mexican cities. Rumberos of various ages, the bearers of expressions derived from the Lucumí culture and members of the Abacuá Isun Efó (an Afro-Cuban fraternity) participated in the celebration which concluded with Los Marqueses de Atarés troupe passing through the street, Calle Vigía.
