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Cuban culture is strongly linked to Cuban history, so it is necessary
to know the history in order to understand the culture. Before the
Europeans arrival, the Island was home to Arawaco tribes, saw the
passing of the warring Caribes and finally, when the Spanish arrived,
was the home of the Taínos, Siboneyes and Guanahatabeyes.
Cuba was rapidly conquered and colonized by the Spaniards during
the early 1500's. The founding of the first seven towns culminated
on November 16, 1519 with the founding of the town that later became
Havana.
The founding of Havana was also the occasion for the first Catholic
mass, which was performed underneath a massive silk-cotton tree.
On the same site there is now a colonial building that houses a
collection of paintings by the French artist Jean Baptiste Vermay,
who roamed the Island and captured on canvas the images of early
colonial life. The Centre of Old Havana, proclaimed in 1982, a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO, preserves nearly intact the historic legacy
of colonial times, both in its architecture and its customs.
Illness hitherto unknown in the New World combined with slavery
conditions in the exploitation of the riches of Cuba caused the
near extinction of the aboriginal Indocubans during the early years
of colonization. The fast disappearing labour force prompted the
Spanish to import African slaves from all over the vast continent,
the largest numbers, however, originated from West Africa, today
Nigeria. Due to their numbers, the Yoruba influence left a marked
imprint on Cuban customs and even today their religion, mixed with
Catholic and other rites, known as Santeria or the Rule of Ocha,
is practised in certain areas of Havana and other parts of the country.
Superimposed over a thin layer of indigenous customs, Spanish and
African traditions became the foundation for today's Cuban cultural
expression, influenced over the years by Chinese, Arabic, Haitian,
French and U.S. cultural touches.
The Cuban identity, or nationalism, began to be felt in the late
1800's and culminated on October 10, 1968, when Carlos Manuel de
Céspedes, known as the Father of the Nation, freed his slaves
and incited them into the struggle for independence. The rebels
from La Manigua, or the Mambisa Brigades, who already identified
themselves as Cubans, sought to break away from Spain and rejected
the leanings towards annexation to the emerging United States.
At about the same time, on October 20, 1869, Perucho Figueredo,
a musician and a patriot on horse back, facing the gates of the
city of Bayamo, composed with his guitar, the most revered and best
known musical piece of Cuba, the National Anthem, moments before
the city was set alight by the rebels to keep it from falling intact
into the hands of the advancing Spanish armies.
When speaking Cuban culture one must start by mentioning the first
Cuban literary work, El espejo de paciencia "The Mirror of
Patience," written by Spanish-born Silvestre de Balboa, but
considered nevertheless Cuban, because of the creole influence on
his writings. Also famous during the latter years of the previous
century was the Peña (artistic circle) de Don Domingo Monte,
a wealthy creole, son of Spanish settlers, who's interest was to
promote a culture with tropical flavour. During the same period,
the poets Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, Julian del Casal and, from
the oriental provinces, Cristobal Napoles Fajardo, left a rich legacy,
as did the priest Felix Varela in the field of education, and in
painting, Victor Patricio de Landuce and Leopoldo Romaniach.
The most renowned Cuban man of letters, José Martí,
a poet, journalist, orator, lawyer and a philosopher, who would
later became the Apostle of Cuban independence, wrote an important
essay, Our America, in which he identified, early on, many of the
problems of his contemporary and future New World, and a collection
of simple verses that inspired composers and troubadours to turn
his poetry into popular songs. Martí died in battle in 1895,
in the early days of the war of independence.
The period between the 20's and 50's saw the emergence of some of
the most famous Cuban painters, like Wilfredo Lam, Marcelo Pogolotti,
Carlos Enríquez and René Portocarrero. In literature,
the writer, poet and narrator José Ledezma Lima and the writer,
poet and playwright Virgilio Piñera also left behind an enriching
legacy. During the 50's Cuban culture exploded and reverberated
throughout Latin America with the works of painters such as Amelia
Pelaez, writers like Alejo Carpentier, and poets like Dulce María
Loinas, the latter two, winners of the Cervantes literature award.
Their work influenced a generation of painters and writers through
the Spanish-speaking world.
The national poet, Nicolás Guillén, deserves special
mention for his Afro-Cuban lyricism depicting every-day life of
the average Cuban over a period of 6 decades, from the 20's to recent
past. Guillén's poetry provides a unifying force as it mirrors
Cuban culture, beliefs, concerns, rhythms and colours that are repeated
by singers like the Spanish, Ana Belén, who propagate around
the world his better known poems. At the time of his death Guillén
was the Director of the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists.
Although the list of writers, poets and painters is long and continues
to grow, the Cuban musicians and composers also left a deep mark
along their way, introducing rhythms and beats based on African
percussion instruments, principally the drums, that are now famous
around the world. Ernesto Lecuona, Moisés Simons and Miguel
Matamoros, created compositions and styles that have endured across
the Island interpreted in many different ways and adapted to modern
styles.
Cuban dance is summarized eloquently by the National Ballet, directed
by the undisputed Cuban prima ballerina, Alicia Alonzo, whose fame
has transcended Cuba to become a household name in Latin America,
Europe and even the United States.
Cuban theatre also has produced outstanding works and performers,
was recognized with several international awards and has been a
strong influencing force in the development of film and television
in the Island.
Cuba was the first Latin American country to have television, its
introduction in 1950, thrust into fame many Cuban musicians, chief
among them Benny Moré. It also helped popularize musical
styles like the trova, son, bolero, guaguancó and columbía,
all of them strongly influenced by African forms.
The African slaves, brought by force to the New World, were not
only able to preserve their traditions and religion through songs
and dances, they were also successful in influencing and shaping
the development of the cultural expression of the newly emerging
countries. Present Cuban artistic talent includes Manuel Mendive,
whose paintings of Afro-Cuban nude dancers are successfully exhibited
throughout Europe. Other prominent contemporary painters are Roberto
Favelo and Zaida del Río. Among writers, Zenel Paz and Francisco
Lopéz Sacha are also well known for their contributions to
script-writing.
Cuban cinema has, during the past three decades, promoted Cuban
culture and traditions through documentary films such as those by
the renowned producer Santiago Alvares and directors like Tomás
Gutierres Alea (Titón) who recently directed the best known
Cuban film "Fresas y Chocolate", a film that courageously
faces problems of Cuban society. "Fresas Y Chocolate"
earned several international awards and was an Oscar an nominee.
Havana is a city endowed with many culture-oriented institutions
and organizations and Old Havana is home to a great number of them.
In this area, in beautifully preserved colonial buildings, are found
the National Restoration and Museums Centre (CENCREM) and the Office
of the City's Historian, partly supported by business enterprises
oriented to the promotion of cultural tourism, like HABAGUANEX S.A.,
or by the joint-venture created with Argentaria, of Spain, to restore
the "Lonja de Comercio," a heritage building that will
be rented as office space.
Architectural treasures are not limited to Havana, nor are they
limited to the colonial period. Other cities and towns, like Trinidad,
on the southern coast of central Cuba, possess well preserved colonial
buildings and are in the process of restoring others. Other architectural
styles, like the eclectic, classic, art decco, are also found in
public buildings and residential homes across Havana, giving the
capital city, the gateway to Cuban culture, a very unique Cuban
flavour.
Every year Cuba is host to a variety of cultural events and encounters,
chief among them the Latin American Film Festival, the Varadero
International Music Festival, the International Ballet Festival,
the Havana Jazz Festival, the Biennial Paint Exhibit, the Biennial
Festival of Humour of San Antonio de los Banos and the International
Choral Encounter, to name a few.
Cuba is, in other words, a country with over 500 years of history
and with a well-defined sense of culture and most Cubans are all-too-aware
of the riches of their country.
Visitors to Cuba, for business or for pleasure, will find that Cubans
represent a country with an energy and vitality that will endure
not only in the works of its writers, painters, musicians and other
artists, but also in the imagination and vigour of its people.
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