First Granma Rebelde International Festival launched in Havana

With Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic in attendance, the First Granma Rebel International Festival was inaugurated on Friday afternoon at the Estación Cultural de Línea y 18 in the capital. This event is specially dedicated to Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

Photos via Estudios Revolución

By Alina Perera Robbio, translated from the Spanish

In a space, through a gesture, or within a word, history can renew itself to remind us that neither the harshest winter nor the darkest season can stop humanity from singing its freedom and pursuing the greatest dreams. This truth became evident on Friday afternoon at the Estación Cultural de Línea y 18 in the capital, where the First Granma Rebelde International Festival was launched.

Bearing the slogan "60 years of Voice and Revolution," the meeting, which will continue until this Sunday, commenced with the attendance of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic. Also present were Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, along with members of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, party leaders, state and government officials, and representatives from various institutions, organizations, and entities across the country.

It was thrilling to witness a gathering of a large community of unions, communicators, and numerous thinkers who have come together in the Cuba to engage in theoretical events and the revitalization of smart grids from leftist perspectives. The Festival, organized by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and involving the Union of Young Communists (UJC), served as another excellent opportunity for convergence. This event celebrated the 60th anniversary of the newspapers Granma and Juventud Rebelde, established by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

Upon arriving in the afternoon, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez visited the booths at the Cultural Station, engaging in conversations with media directors and journalists at each one. In addition to the areas dedicated to Granma and Juventud Rebelde, there were booths from other participants such as Editora Abril (Cuba), Almayadeen (Palestine), Diario del Pueblo (China), Ideas Multimedios (Cuba), Palante (Cuba), Nhan Dan Newspaper (Vietnam), Cubavisión Internacional (Cuba), Radio Cubana, Editorial de la Mujer (Cuba), Bohemia (Cuba), Alma Plus (Cuba), Prensa Latina (Cuba), Trabajadores (Cuba), El Siglo Newspaper (Chile), Cuban News Agency, Conciencia Magazine (Mexico), and The People's Forum (U.S.).

The central speech at the opening ceremony was delivered by Yuniasky Crespo Baquero, a member of the Party's Central Committee and head of its Ideological Department. He stated, "The Festival we open today is an event that calls to mind two symbols of our struggle. Its name connects us to the core of the Cuban Revolution."

To conclude the previous point, Yuniasky stated that "the Granma yacht became historic due to the unwavering determination of a group of young individuals ready to achieve freedom or become martyrs. The Rebel Army, composed of the people, brought Cuba the triumph on January 1, 1959, under the wise leadership of Fidel."

Later in her remarks, the party leader stated: "We launch this festival following a morning filled with dedication and public support. In the center of Havana, near the equestrian statue of the liberator Simón Bolívar, alongside our First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez leading the way, we condemned the aggressive escalation against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and reaffirmed our steadfast stance, grounded in principles that are neither negotiable nor alterable."

She noted that Army General Raúl Castro Ruz's signature was at the top of one of the copies of "the books that over 4,388,000 Cubans signed in solidarity with that brother people."

Concerning the iconic Granma and Juventud Rebelde, the Central Committee member of the Communist Party stated that, "as key voices that sustain the media platform of the Cuban Revolution, the two newspapers have chronicled the popular resistance against the attacks of American imperialism and have consistently served as a platform for defending the most just causes of humanity."

The First Granma Rebelde International Festival, she highlighted, "is particularly dedicated to Fidel as we approach the centennial of his birth. The historic leader of the Revolution continues to be a permanent source of inspiration for our people and for everyone who upholds the banners of dignity and fights for the dreams of justice for a better world, which we know is both possible and urgently needed today."

Towards the end of her speech, Yuniasky Crespo Baquero stated that "unity is our main strength. Let us unite," she said, "to confront the media manipulation and the fourth-generation war tactics of imperialism, aimed at inciting hatred, distorting the realities of our nations and fueling the rise of fascism and neocolonialism."

"United we can challenge these powerful forces and emerge victorious."

What followed, concluding the afternoon, filled every soul in the large venue with hope and beauty: it was a Political Song Concert organized by the Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS), showcasing highly talented young artists. Against the backdrop of a recreation of the Cuban poster "The Rose and the Thorn" by designer Alfredo Rostgaard, they captured the essence of the young members of the Nueva Trova Movement from the 1960s.

Through unforgettable lyrics—many of which were performed in concerts during the 80s and 90s—it became clear that history, in its most beautiful, human, and libertarian form, always resurfaces to remind everyone, especially those with sinister motives, that on the opposite side, the saviors, the noble, will continue their fight.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC