The activity conceived as a platform to celebrate the influence of the Mexican culture in Cuba has been taking place in Havana since September 8 with a varied program of recitals, contests, and performances.

According to Hugo Oslé, artistic and general director, the closing event includes awarding the Mexican music contest, which celebrated its 25th edition this year with the performances of 17 musicians from different Cuban provinces.

Santiago Ruiz, cultural adviser at the Mexican Embassy in Cuba, along with artists Miguel Barrera, Rosalía Arnáez, Alina Clemente, and other distinguished guests, presided over the jury in charge of selecting the best performers, Oslé said at a press conference.

In the contest, the musicians brought to the stage songs written by figures such as José Alfredo Jiménez, Tomás Méndez, Vicente Fernández, and Juan Gabriel, among others, in an attempt to win one of their three prizes or the female or male Grand Prix.

Under the title “Viva Cuba, Viva México,” the awarding and closing gala brings together the sounds of the Mexican nation to the beat of titles such as “El Rey,” “Cucurrucucucú paloma,” “México lindo y querido,” among others.

pgh/iff/oda/lbl