BAYAMO.— The last day of the Festival of Cuban Identity (Fiesta de la Cubanía) saw no shortage of local and other visitors from across the country, as they celebrated the Day of Cuban Culture, which takes place every October 20, the date on which the National Anthem was first sung.

The Bayamo awards, selected by UNEAC, were bestowed on poets Alex Pausides and Alexander Besú; artists Ever Fonseca and Manuel Olivera; and composer José Alberto Tamayo. The artist, Nelson Domínguez, and the Manuel Navarro Luna Elementary Music School, from Manzanillo, also received Honorific Awards.

The awards ceremony was presided by Sonia Virgen Pérez Mojena, first secretary of the Party in Granma, Manuel Santiago Sobrino, president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power and Julián González, Minister of Culture, as well as other authorities. Actor, Corina Mestre, and singer, Kelvis Ochoa, also received recognitions as Honorary Member of the José Martí Art Instructors Brigade and Honorary Member of the AHS, respectively.

Indira Fajardo, national president of the José Martí Brigade and Rubiel García, national president of the AHS, spoke to Granma and expressed their satisfaction with the welcome given to young leaders at the festival.

The Professional Choir of Bayamo performed the National Anthem, along with other songs, while Pancho Amat brought the ceremony to a close with classics from Cuba’s trova and son repertoires, concluding with a homage to Celina González, inviting all those present to sing along to Yo soy el punto cubano.

In the afternoon, the Museo de Cera (Wax Museum) unrevealed a new waxworks of Juan Formell. The journalist Pedro de la Hoz, vice president of UNEAC, paid homage to Formell, highlighting his values as a composer who revolutionized Cuban music, creating a musical group with a renewed style and concept of the charanga.

De la Hoz stressed the significance of the musician who chronicled the entire second half of twentieth century Cuba. "Formell was already part of Cubans’ collective imagination o and he will live forever in popular memory. With this sculpture his memory is perpetuated."