• Submitted by: admin
• Culture and Traditions
• Granma
• History
• history
• national
• Personalities
• 11 / 21 / 2009

---

It is about the revival of Haitian traditions which had come to the island since the days of the Haitian Revolution and has stayed for long in the Eastern side of Cuba.

A communitarian cultural Project which cultivates Haitian traditions, is contributing to the animation of the life in this village and other sites from the Sierra Maestra, the highest and most famous mountain range in Cuba.

Led by the Haitian farmer René Richard Morpeau, who is 87 years old, the proposal comes from the La Escondida neighbourhood, close to Guisa town, and it includes music and craft work.

According to what Richard Morpeau told to AIN News Agency, he emigrated in 1952 to Cuba and belongs to the Association of Artists and Artisans as an expert in yarey hat knitting, well recognized for its quality and beauty.

He said that his initiative and the institutional help promoted the group made up by several of his six children and seven grandchildren, to interpret African, Haitian and Cuban typical rhythms with drums, tres, guitars, bongo, harpsichord, guayo and maracas.

He also highlighted the natural abilities of his children Abner (a drum, maracas and guayo maker) and Gilberto (author of wooden, marble and wax sculptures).

Abner Richard informed that the project has a regular space on the second Sunday of each month in La Escondida, apart from performing in other communities from the Sierra Maestra and in events such as the Jornada Cucalambeana, from the city of Las
Tunas and the Cubania Festival from Bayamo.

Julio César Díaz, director of the Granma Culture House, pointed out that the Richards are the only declared group with ancient traditions in Granma mountains and the second one in the province, the Guasimal band, from Manzanillo is the only one
preceding it.

Source: AIN and Cubarte