The Heredia cultural center of this city hosted the inaugural gala, in which a varied show was presented, which expresses the chromatic sound and dance diversity of the Caribbean, a party on this occasion dedicated to the state of Bahia, of the Federative Republic of Brazil. whose artistic talent was present.
Orlando Vergés, director of Casa del Caribe, in his opening remarks sent messages of solidarity to the Palestinian people suffering from the genocide perpetrated by Israel, and to the Caribbean nations that are currently being hit by Hurricane Beryl.
He also dedicated words of tribute to the journalist and writer Pedro de la Hoz and the bibliographer Tomás Fernández, scholars of Caribbean culture, who recently died.
He thanked the support of the highest Cuban authorities, the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Communist Party and the Government of Santiago de Cuba, for the trust in organizers who assumed the challenge of creating the festival in this economic context.
He highlighted the ethnic and folkloric similarities between Cuba and Bahia, and recognized the work of the Cuban diplomatic mission in Brazil and the Ambassador of the South American giant in Cuba, Cristian Vargas, who worked as a team to make possible the participation of representatives of Bahia in the Fire Festival.
Next, Cristian Vargas conveyed the gratitude of the government of Brazil and the state of Bahia for the honor and joy of having the Fire Festival dedicated to them.
The diplomat affirmed that the Caribbean is, for Brazil, a space of cooperation, solidarity and identity and stressed that Salvador de Bahía and Santiago de Cuba are identity-forming cultures, very close culturally and socially.
The inaugural activities concluded at the Casa del Caribe headquarters with the exhibition “Notes from Time” by sculptor Alberto Lescay, National Prize for Plastic Arts.
Also present were Beatriz Johnson, member of the Central Committee and first Secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba, and Governor Manuel Falcón.
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