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The University of Oriente, in Santiago de Cuba, has inaugurated the 2025-2026 school year with a program of activities aimed at connecting the thoughts of dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016) with current challenges and making them “useful” in the academic and civic education of its students.
The institution's plan, which will run until December 4, 2026, combines academic, scientific, and cultural events with traditional activities such as the university vigil on November 25 and the pilgrimage to the Santa Ifigenia Heritage Cemetery.
Moreover, the revolutionary reaffirmation march in October will be dedicated to Castro, reported the official newspaper Sierra Maestra.
Frank Josué Solar Cabrales, president of the Honorary Chair for the Study of Castro's Thought, detailed that five historical routes have been developed in Santiago de Cuba and its surroundings, including visits to Birán and the Sierra Maestra, along with a caravan that will travel the route to Havana to visit sites related to his life.
Each department and faculty will generate its own activities from the perspective of its discipline, seeking to connect Fidel's thought with areas such as engineering and technical sciences.
Events were also scheduled with interviewers of the historical leader and the La Sierra gathering at the Antonio Maceo Plaza de la Revolución, dedicated to its connection with culture, sports, and the Santiago community.
According to Solar Cabrales, the intention is not only to pay homage or evoke nostalgia, but to “bring Fidel into today’s struggle, making it useful and deepening our understanding of his example of life so that it can serve us in current challenges.”
The universities of Holguín recently launched the political campaign "Here I Become a Fidelista", a new "initiative" of worship, designed to prepare the propaganda machinery for the centenary of Castro in 2026.
According to the leadership of the University Student Federation (FEU), the objective is to “continue Fidel's legacy” through historical-themed activities that will be replicated in all universities across the country.
In the context of the propaganda offensive leading up to the centenary of the Cuban dictator, the regime has consolidated an ideological machinery with national reach, aimed at glorifying his figure in all areas of public life.
The program “Fidel among Us” was designed to be integrated into educational institutions, media outlets, state organizations, and workplaces through a network of activities that include competitions, tributes, seminars, and indoctrination.
As part of this strategy, a national campaign was launched aimed at encouraging all Cubans to “know, defend, and love Fidel,” as stated by official spokespersons.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Exaltation of Fidel Castro in Cuba
What is the objective of the University of Oriente's program about Fidel Castro?
The program at the University of the East aims to connect Fidel Castro's thinking with current challenges and make it "useful" in the academic and civic education of its students. This plan includes academic and cultural events, pilgrimages, and marches for revolutionary affirmation as part of a broader strategy to exalt Castro's legacy.
What activities are included in the campaign "Aquí me hago fidelista" at Cuban universities?
The campaign "Here I Become a Fidelist" includes marches, events, discussions, and activities of a historical nature at Cuban universities with the aim of "continuing Fidel's legacy" and setting the ideological groundwork for the dictator's centenary in 2026. This campaign is part of a strategy of cult and political indoctrination promoted by the Cuban regime.
Why is the Cuban regime focusing its efforts on the figure of Fidel Castro?
The Cuban regime is using the figure of Fidel Castro as a tool for political propaganda to reinforce its ideological control at a time of economic crisis and social discontent. Through commemorative activities and campaigns of exaltation, the government aims to ensure the reproduction of Castroism and maintain its power amid growing internal tensions.
How is Fidel Castro's exaltation related to the current situation in Cuba?
Despite the severe economic and social crisis in Cuba, the regime prioritizes resources to reinforce the cult of personality around Fidel Castro. This is accomplished through a series of propaganda activities that contrast with the daily realities of Cubans, who face blackouts, shortages, and repression. The glorification of Castro is used as a means to distract from current problems and maintain the official narrative.
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