Every time I listen to the National Anthem of Cuba I feel deeply moved; it is something that emerges from deep inside. I know that most of my fellow countrymen feel the same and we feel proud every time the Cuban flag waves to the chords of the anthem. During these days of the Pan American Games in Mexico, we have had several opportunities to live these emotions every time the Cuban athletes receive a gold medal. 

On October 20th, Cubans celebrate the Cuban Culture Day. After listening to our National Anthem, I felt motivated to write about this special day for us. On occasion of these celebrations, I think I should write about what culture represents for each country. First of all, culture is closely connected to the concept of nation. In the case of Cuba, it has been considered a nation since the beginning of the Ten Years War in 1868. Although the country was still a colony of Spain, Cuba was a nation since the foundations of our national identity were already grounded and were later enriched spiritually and materially without sacrificing the essence of the Cuban nationality.

Culture is not based on a schematic structure; it takes everything from the universe and incorporates it without losing its identity. One of the main foundations is tradition; which is consistently enhanced without falling into dogmas or chauvinism. Cuban culture is universal, for it is the result of a mixture of cultures. Cuba was already a land of mixtures when the Spaniards arrived. Other cultures continued to add up to Cuban nationality as they arrived and settled down: Sub-Saharan Africans, Arabs, Jewish and Christians, and Asian came to put their grain into Cuban nationality.

Some of these cultures were introduced in Cuba by force. If the Spaniards would have not conquered this land, we would not speak Spanish as our official language; we would listen to another type of music and our view of the world would have also been different.

Presently, there are positive and negative influences that may change the cultural components of many peoples. Those influences provoke fear in some, and caution in others. Some people may feel dazzled and willingly allow to be “recolonized.” Others, more sensitive, defense their identity and let the new elements coming in orderly, so national culture prevails. For those reasons, it is essential to educate people in the support and promotion of values such as the unconditional love for the national identity. Also the media, and especially the radio should rise as one of the most consistent, passionate and conscious promoters of Cuban traditional music and culture. The cornerstone in the defense of the cultural identity is primarily based on the maturity, conviction and conscience of those who spread culture to preserve the most genuine cultural values.

Cuban music is rich in genres starting with Son and continuing with its derivates such as Bolero, Guaracha, and Danzon. The latter is considered our national dance; it has its roots in France, which never occupied our territory. It came to Cuba in the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution and the consequent arrival of many fleeing settlers who brought the bases to Cuba, where they were assimilated in dances such as the French Contradanza. Then, it mixed with Cuban music and turned into Danzon, our National Dance. Something similar happened with jazz, the musical phenomenon from the Southwest of the United States. Now, there is Latin Jazz and Cuban Jazz, which roots are solidly based in the Afro-Cuban culture.

When Perucho Figueredo wrote our national anthem, he inspired in the Marseillaise, the anthem sung by those who stormed the Bastille prison more than 50 years before and started the French Revolution.  Inspirations apart, there is no doubt that the Cuban anthem is 100 percent.

It is said that the world today is like a global village. Martí, our national hero said: "Homeland is Humanity". It means solidarity, respect, friendship, support and collaboration among all nations. He also said: "the People that loses its language, loses its independence," and “Being cultured is the only way to be free." It means that we should know, love, and defend our culture without scorning what come from others. It means that we should know, respect, love, and defend the national symbols, history, tradition, diversity, heroes, nature, heaven and earth, and our people. Being cultured also means to speak and defend our own language above others.

Being cultured is to defend at all costs the sovereignty and independence of the Fatherland, the integrity of its geographical and spiritual territory. It is not just about emotion, but the constant vocation to work for the unity of the homeland, from its diverse and unique richness. Culture is a more valuable treasure than all the gold in the world, and one of the main foundations of our life as a nation.

A translation by: Silke Paez Carr

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