The Palmares Pinar del Río Non-Hotel Branch took center stage at the Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2025) on November 28, with a day dedicated to showcasing local culture.
However, the highlight wasn't the rum pairings or the Cohiba cigars. Instead, a video released by the organization featuring people dressed as Native Americans performing a traditional areíto dance to entertain visitors drew the most attention.
Palmares promoted the video on social media as a "major attraction" at the fair, showcasing "representations of aboriginal culture and runaway slave traditions, part of the signature shows at the Indian Cave and the Cimarrones' Palenque."
The state company enthusiastically claimed, “We’ve had more than spectators, we’ve had participants!” praising the performance as “great fun” and “wonderfully sensory.”
Public response on social media was starkly different. Journalist Mario J. Pentón shared the video with a sarcastic remark: “Cuban aborigines perform an areíto to attract foreign investment to Pinar del Río.”
Comments poured in, labeling the performance an “absurdity,” “embarrassment,” and “another sign of cultural decay in the country.”
“This looks like a parody of themselves,” one user noted, while another summarized the general sentiment: “It’s shameful to see such a presentation at an international fair where Cuba should display the pinnacle of its culture, not a caricature of it.”
Some remarked that the dance "isn't an areíto but rather a mosquito-repelling dance from the island," while others suggested that "the people of Pinar del Río are ahead of the curve, visionaries for what lies ahead for Cuba."
Palmares' folk performance ended up capturing attention, albeit not in a positive light, at an event that should have highlighted Cuba's competitive edge to foreign investors.
Cuban Cultural Representation and Foreign Investment
Why did Palmares' performance attract criticism?
The performance was criticized for being an absurd portrayal of Cuban culture, seen as an embarrassment and a sign of the country's cultural decline.
What was the public's reaction to the video shared by Palmares?
The public reacted negatively, with many expressing that the performance was a parody and should not represent Cuba at an international fair.
What was the intention behind Palmares' cultural performance?
Palmares intended to showcase aboriginal and runaway slave culture as a unique attraction to engage visitors and potentially attract foreign investment.