Dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Santiago de Cuba, the Festival of the Caribbean begins its 35th edition today. The popular event, a meeting of cultures of the Caribbean peoples, will be celebrated in Santiago until July 9 and this year pays tribute to the culture of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, as guest country of honor.
The Fiesta del Fuego (Fire Festival), as it is also known, will see the participation of over a thousand international guests from thirty countries of the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe, including representatives from Turkey and Cuban scholars and promoters of popular traditional culture.
Organized by the Casa del Caribe, the Festival will have among its most significant events the creation of the Network of Caribbean Carnivals, an initiative sponsored by the Association of Caribbean States to promote and celebrate this musical and dance expression deeply rooted among the people of the region; as well as the presentation of the Casa del Caribe International Awards, this year going to Cuban poet Waldo Leyva, founders of the event and to Junkanoo, the carnival native to The Bahamas.
The International Caribbean Colloquium will also take place, providing a fundamental space for the development of workshops on popular religiosity, music, storytelling and popular theatre. The program also includes a panel of historians specializing in Cuban villas, a meeting of young artists and performances by more than 40 artistic groups.
Among the most anticipated concerts is that of the famous Dominican merengue singer Johnny Ventura and popular singer Maridalia Hernández, founder of the 440 band along with Juan Luis Guerra, which will take place on July 4 and 5 at the Heredia Theater.
Meanwhile, the traditional Parade of the Snake and Fire, which opens the Festival, the Haitian and Antillean parties and the tribute to the slave rebellion all return to this edition for the enjoyment of those gathered in the eastern city, which also celebrates its five centuries of existence.
