• Submitted by: admin
• Editorial Articles
• Culture and Traditions
• 07 / 05 / 2007

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Anacaona was the name of a famous cacique woman of Haitian origin. In aboriginal language, it means Flower of Gold. This woman had authority over the Cuban western province called Xaragua at that time.

It is said that she was very clever and kind. One of her most outstanding virtues was that of being a poet. She composed the areitos to sing in the community celebrations. Her wisdom, gifts, her movements and her affection for everybody among other qualities did her honor.

Her treasure was made up a great dinner set and other cooking utensils that were made of a black wood carved with beautiful motifs by Guanaba Indians, inhabitants of the neighboring La Española Island.

According to historians, when her brother Mayobanex died, Anacaona called her sister in law Guanatabenequena, one of the most beautiful women in the island and asked her to make herself buried alive together with the body of her lover. At that time when a leader died, there was a custom of burying him together with her most beautiful and beloved woman alive.

However, one day the followers of a Spanish colonizer named Roladanwere settled in Xaragua, it was a perverted and aggressive troop. Their excesses caused disagreement with the respected cacique woman Anacaona who was accused in revenge by her visitors of organizing a plan to eliminate the Spaniards.

Although the fame against those criminals were known, the Spanish troops ignored her and left three hundred infantrymen and seventy horsemen looking for the Anacaona reign on the pretext of appreciating the attentions they offered to their compatriots. She welcomed them in front of the most important men of her tribe. The celebration did last several days.

The Spanish troops pleaded a celebration to the European style; an authentic military parade at that time, to condescend their innocent hosts however, the real objective was to eliminate the Indian community and the queen.

In order to start that ceremony the Spanish command moved forward as they were to fight, where Anacaona was gathered with her subjects and the cavalry surrounded them while the infantry took possession of the roads to access the hamlet.

The honest Indians welcomed the honors admired but with no fear, without thinking that in just few minutes the burden of Spanish swords would fall on them. The great cacique woman Anacaona was taken to prison, the village was burned and those who run away alive were caught by fire.

The beneficent Indian princess returned chained up to her homeland La Española island where she was sentenced to hang.