The Cucalambeana Fiesta, the supreme party of the Cuban peasantry, will take place in Las Tunas from June 28 to July 2, dedicated to the 194th birthday of Juan Cristóbal Nápoles Fajardo (El Cucalambé), the greatest bucolic poet of the 19th century in the Island; the intellectual Haydée Santamaría Cuadrado; the poet and plastic artist Renael González Batista, and the 45th anniversary of the System of Culture Houses (CPCC).

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Music, dance, and poetry spectacles, theoretical spaces, exhibitions, controversies, and other artistic and recreational activities will enrich the event that, according to its organizers, advocates gradually reaching a greater socio-cultural impact. Among the novelties this year is, for example, the Guayabera Dress contest, promoted by the CPCC, under the auspices of the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets (FCBC), to stimulate artistic creation and contribute to the use and preservation of the National Garment. Another premier moment will be the presentation of the book Hay que Defender la Vida (We must defend life), by Haydée Santamaría, about the centenary of the heroine of the Moncada Feat.

Several artistic expressions and peasantry traditions converge in the Cucalambeana Fiesta

On the agenda are second editions, but (first of a face-to-face nature) of the Carlos Escalona Tunes Contest and the Identity and Diversity Colloquium, also under the aegis of the CPCC. According to Anais Ray Haynes -in charge of that institution-, this last initiative -despite having points that coincide with the Ibera-American Colloquium for the Décima- differs by emphasizing "what happens in the communities subordinated to the Cucalambeana Fiesta as studies about instruments present in the celebration, families that cultivate traditional genres, customs, Creole foods, and other topics.”

According to Darlenis Urquiola, the Provincial Director of Culture, "this year, we support, from the very conception of the event, programs that are promoted at the national level such as those for the Advancement of Women, Rural Women, and Food Sovereignty. For this reason, the First Esencias de Mujer Photographic Saloon was designed and the show on Friday night, at the El Cornito Amphitheater, will be a tribute to the ladies of rural areas."

"We want to contribute to the empowerment of women, not only taking into account race, sex, or gender; but, also, their participation in the different social processes. It will be there where the Flor de Birama (Birama’s Flower) is selected, but it does not respond to a beauty contest, but to the representation of typical Cuban traits.”

Ramón Batista, director of the El Cucalambé Ibero-American Center for the Décima (an institution that will celebrate three decades next December), said that prizes will be awarded to the two most relevant eight-syllable rhyming contests that host the event: "Cucalambé" (written décima) and "Justo Vega" (improvised décima).

"The first has a cash prize, with 30,000 pesos in national currency for the winner, plus 10,000 for copyright, and the publication of the book by the Sanlope publishing house. The second will have the participation of 10 contenders from different provinces and whoever gets on the podium will receive 10,000 pesos, while for those who deserve the Popularity Award, it will be 2,000," he explained.

Leticia Fernández, in charge of the Ibero-American Colloquium of the Décima, commented that presentations by authors from various provinces will be shared, which address topics such as the Cuban Point, humor in the décima, the work of Renael González and other poets, besides honor the Canarian traditions in Cuba, with the presence of authorities related to that folklore.

The visual arts will also be represented in several spaces, whose outstanding stages will be the National Landscape, Illustrated Décima, and Popular Crafts halls, as the result of the best creations presented in the more than 350 community fiestas developed before the great event.

Maida Rodríguez, in charge of the Provincial Council of Plastic Arts (CPAP), added that an exhibition by the plastic artist Wilber Ortega Aldaya will open in the Provincial Committee of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), and a collective exhibition resulting from the Confluencias Event (promoted from Majibacoa), which will be shared in the headquarters provincial branch of the Nicolás Guillén Foundation (FNG).

Acirys Espinosa, editor-in-chief of Sanlope, recalled that the Catauro de la Décima, in addition to hosting the award ceremony of the Cucalambé contest, embraces the Canto Alrededor del Punto glosses competition, and the Cordel Poetry competition, which promotes the cultivation of the so-called "peninsular traveler" stanza, in its written version. This space, led by the writers, becomes the ideal setting for the confluence of poetic styles; as well as the homage to those who have left their mark on literature (especially in the cultivation of the décima), such as Renael González (now deceased) and Pedro Péglez.

The Décima Cuerda project, from Ciego de Ávila, and renowned poets like Sindi Manuel Torres, Emiliano Sardiñas, and Juan Carlos García Guridi are among the participants in the revelry. Likewise, "the event will be joined by guests from some eight nations, including the Yat Balam folkloric group, from Honduras, and the Alma ballet from Mexico; as well as diplomatic personnel such as His Excellency Mr. Maher El-Adawy, Ambassador of Egypt in Cuba, who will give a conference," reported Yanetsy Ramírez León, a specialist in International Relations of the Provincial Directorate of Culture.

The Crafts Fair, native games, contests such as traditional dishes, the provincial meeting of musical groups Del Son al Son, the children's space Cantos de Colibrí, the Bohío Campesino with the usual presentation of the group Raíces Soneras (and guests) will come to El Cornito, shows for children and adults... While in the historic center of the city, there will also be activities such as theoretical meetings, poetry recitals, artistic presentations, exhibitions, and others.

Ramón Batista, director of the El Cucalambé Ibero-American Center for the Décima, said it well: "The success and maintenance of the Cucalambeana Fiesta depend on many hands, which -sometimes even from anonymity- contribute to the conservation of our idiosyncrasy. The Supreme Guateque of Cuban Peasantry is still alive because it is the essence and result of a tradition.”