Las Tunas celebrated May 8th, Cuban Son Day, with performances by groups that cultivate the genre, panels, and other initiatives, which began on Thursday in different municipalities.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– Maceo Park, for example, was filled with joy with a performance by the Charanga Oriental, while the "Resumando el Son" (Reclaiming Son) project reached the Francisco Muñoz Rubalcaba Pre-university Institute, providing enjoyment with themed dances. Likewise, at the Juan Manuel Ameijeiras Pre-university Institute, in “Amancio,” the results of the workshops at the "Me dicen Cuba" (They Call Me Cuba) Casino Club were shared.

Meanwhile, as part of the activities, the Emiliano Salvador House of Music in the provincial capital hosted a theoretical forum that allowed participants to delve into the history of son, prominent composers, characteristics of this musical style, and other issues of interest. Among those who shared their knowledge on-site was Maritza López Ronda, a professor at the El Cucalambé Professional Arts School, who discussed its origins in Cuba, some of its composers, local groups that cultivate the genre, its formats and instruments, and other related topics.

“Son has been of great importance to our identity because, in addition to being recognized as a National Cultural Heritage since 2012, it has been part of other genres that developed from its essence. Furthermore, some are instruments typical of this type of music, and although they can be found in various groups, in son they have a distinctive function, as is the case with the tres guitar and the trumpet,” said the professor and researcher, an expert in musical matters.

Every May 8th, for the past five years, Cuban Son Day has been celebrated, coinciding with the birthdays of Miguel Matamoros and Miguelito Cuní. This decision was largely influenced by the insistence of the late Maestro Adalberto Álvarez, National Music Prize winner. Following this path, last year, the Practice of Cuban Son was included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, an achievement that highlights the efforts of the "Knight of Son" for the recognition of the genre's value, which serves as a fitting tribute to this figure of Cuban music, even after his death.

Cuban son —which combines Hispanic and African influences— is, ultimately, an inseparable part of the national identity. Defending it should always be a source of pride, but also an enormous responsibility and a commitment to our cultural roots.