Cuba Gives Continuity to the UNESCO Slave Route Project
BY AMELIA DUARTE DE LA ROSA 

The Cuban Committee for the Slave Route Project has received deserved congratulations. Its promotion work, research and preservation of the African legacy were described as excellent by the president of the Executive Council of UNESCO, Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai, in a meeting at the Guanabacoa History Museum. The ambassador of Benin in Havana, Gregoire Laitan Houdé, attended the meeting.

The Slave Route Project, created by UNESCO, was launched in 1994 in Benin ─ one of the greatest centers of slave shipments in the Gulf of Guinea. The African cultural traditions ─intangible wealth of our heritage ─ arrived in our country together with slavery. The work of the National Committee throughout the period 2005 -2009, has been marked by the thorough study of the different cultural, spiritual and religious manifestations and their influence in our identity.

During the meeting, the president of the Fernando Ortiz Foundation, Miguel Barnet, and the coordinator of the Cuban Committee, Jesus Guanche, expounded on the project’s main activities. They correspond with the new strategy UNESCO launched in February, 2006. Such activities include publications in books, national and foreign magazines; annual scientific events; anthropology workshops and projects for documentaries.

“The project is intended to give continuity to the Slave Route and renew ties with other countries in the area,” explained Guanche. The Fernando Ortiz Foundation, UNESCO and the Regional Network of research on religions have collaborated with this project.

Olabiyi admitted feeling “excited to be in this part of Africa!” He encouraged the National Committee to continue being the best example of the revitalization of the project in the region and in the world.