Caimanera, Guantánamo.—Trova musicians and artists participating in the 40th Political Song Showcase joined their voices yesterday, August 2, to demand the return of the territory occupied by the illegal U.S. Naval Base, in Guantánamo province.
Musicians chose the costal town of Caimanera and the Brigada de la Frontera, as the settings to express, through song, the Cuban people’s demand for the return of the land occupied by the United States for over a century.
As part of the showcase program, Víctor Casaus, director of the Pablo de la Torriente Brau Cultural Center, an institution which has spent 20 years promoting Cuban Trova through the Guitarra Limpia event, gave a conference in the city of Guantánamo.
The evening saw performances by Trova musicians across different neighborhoods and the inauguration of Remembranza, an exposition of posters from the Pablo Center, on display at the Asociación Hermanos Saíz’s Pórtico Gallery in the province.
The event which will continue through August 4, was inaugurated with the concert Te doy una canción, honoring the founders of Cuba’s New Trova Movement.
Over a dozen national and local artists performed a repertory of well-know songs which included “Creéme” and “Pequeña Serenata Diurna,” accompanied by the public.
”When we came here at the request of Lorenzo Cisneros, Topete, to participate in the first edition of the Showcase, would couldn’t have imagined that 40 years later it would be the only event dedicated to political songs in Cuba. I hope it continues for many years to come,” stated famous Cuban singer-song writer Augusto Blanca, speaking to the press.
Various generations of Cuban Trova musicians such as Marta Campos, Heidi Igualada, Eduardo Sosa, Tony Ávila and young talents from the local area are coming together over these days to perform in the Showcase, considered to be the AHS’ oldest event.
