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While the Cuban population struggles to cope with daily blackouts, food shortages, and a widespread economic collapse, the authorities in Camagüey announced that they will continue the traditional Culture Week, albeit in a scaled-back version and without the festive atmosphere that has historically characterized it.
The event will take place from February 1 to 7, in celebration of the 512th anniversary of the city's founding. However, this time it will be held under strict limitations, which many interpret as an attempt by the regime to “comply” with the official cultural agenda, even though the daily reality for the people is increasingly precarious, as reported by the official media Adelante.
A culture "without celebration" in a country in the dark
During a press conference, the municipal director of Culture, Daikel Guilarte, acknowledged that there will be no traditional popular activities.
"We will not have festive or dance areas," the official admitted, specifying that only certain sections will be opened in the Casino Campestre during daytime hours, in addition to the usual cultural corridor.
In a country where the energy crisis has left entire provinces without electricity for over 40 hours, Guilarte assured that they will have "backup power plants" to ensure services are not disrupted, a privilege that contrasts sharply with the situation of thousands of families who spend whole nights without power or basic resources.
Reduced programming and reliance on amateurs
The organization confirmed that the main focus of the activities will be on the movement of amateur artists and the professionals from the official catalog, while part of the program extends until Sunday the 8th to reach rural communities and transforming neighborhoods.
Among the ongoing activities is the usual Rincón Campesino, located near the Glorieta del Casino Campestre, which will operate from Friday to Sunday from noon until six in the afternoon.
Cultural encounters with political dedications
Despite the material hardships in the country, the regime insisted on infusing the cultural week with ideological dedications. The Meeting of Camagüeyan Writers will be dedicated to the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth, featuring the participation of the official writer Katiuska Blanco.
The Symposium "Challenges in the Management and Administration of Cities" will also be held, focusing on heritage conservation, as well as the Research Event, which will include the public action "From Danzón to Rumba."
Multiple dedications and institutional gala
The Camagüey Cultural Week will have special dedications to various cultural institutions, such as:
The 90th anniversary of the Soneros de Camagüey
The 65 of the Symphony Orchestra and the Professional Choir
The 50 from the Jesús Suárez Gayol Museum and the Areíto Circus
The 30 of Rumbatá
The 15 of the Camagua Folkloric Company
One of the central events will be the Solemn Session of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power on February 2, at the Main Theater, accompanied by an artistic gala.
Symbolic culture in a country in ruins
Among the most appealing proposals is a concert featuring the Camagüey Symphony Orchestra and the Professional Choir along with singer-songwriter Gerardo Alfonso, scheduled for February 7, followed by the closing gala.
However, in a Cuba where the people face hunger, endless blackouts, inflation, and a growing health crisis, cultural celebration seems to serve more as an institutional and propagandistic gesture than as a true popular festivity.
Camagüey will maintain its Culture Week, but it will do so without dances, without festive areas, and with electricity guaranteed only for the event, while the daily lives of its citizens continue to be marked by darkness, scarcity, and neglect.
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