If you ask someone in Las Tunas who Edilberto Agüero was, they may not know, but if you say “Zabala,” that's another story. Many have danced to the beat of the Estampas Tuneras dance troupe, which acquired the name of its leader in popular slang. Such was the legacy of this man that he passed on his enthusiasm to his descendants, and today, although he is no longer with us physically, we continue to celebrate his life and work.
This February 24, gratitude once again echoed in our hearts. On such a sublime day for the homeland, as it marks the restart of the independence struggles in 1895, a whole tradition was born in our region 73 springs ago: this troupe. The family's “helmsman” would also have turned 93 on that date, and just three years ago, the children of the unforgettable leader brought the Zabaleando community socio-cultural project to life on the same date.
Voices such as those of director Roger Cuevas and Jorge Carbonell have shared beautiful messages that reflect how much the creator and his achievements mean, including “those children who understood that tradition is not inherited on paper, but in heartbeats,” as the radio host claimed. "When the senior comparsero left, it was not only his voice that was silenced. An entire city that learned to recognize itself among sequins, choreographed steps, and the rumbling of the comparsa was shaken," he would say in his chronicle.
Nor would there be any lack of lines for the new batch: “There is something deeply moving about seeing them sustain the comparsa when circumstances are not favorable. Because they do it without fanfare, without big stages, but with a conviction that shakes you (...) In a city where carnival no longer parades through the avenues, they have managed to keep the tradition alive in memory.”
Today, the work of this family tree is an indissoluble part of the popular culture of our town; from 130 Adolfo Villamar Street (their “headquarters”), art comes to life. Thus, from an early age, vital steps, mastery of instruments, and so many treasures are taught. Even a mini-library and actions that shelter the vulnerable in the community are part of their agenda.
Eddy Zabala, the eldest of the brothers united like musketeers in pursuit of culture, knows these essentials well. “This started as a dream of the family so that, in the absence of carnival, the new generations would have an idea of how the comparsas (dance troupes) emerged and developed, what the town's festivals were like, and it has become a powerful project, thanks to the support of the community,” he told 26.
Happy that events such as the Cucalambeana Fiesta and the National Telecenters Festival have welcomed them, he confessed to certain ambitions that mark their current course. "We want to have our Diana Mambisa back, the one who has so much historical significance, as it was the call to rise during the war of independence. On one occasion, in the absence of the Municipal Concert Band, which used to perform it, the old man decided to perform it with the troupe and did so for many years; it is our wish to keep it alive," said Eddy.
He also reaffirmed that they never stop dreaming and even want to “make Zabaleando an ambassador of Las Tunas culture to the world; for Las Tunas to take its culture to all corners. It's also a way for my dad's legacy to live on.” I don't know about you, but I would vote for that.
This February 24th, at the bust of Martí located in front of the Provincial Library, the Zabala family placed a floral offering and, nearby, played the fanfare.
