This Thursday, a procession of bicitaxis wound its way through the streets of Santiago de Cuba as part of the official events commemorating what would have been Fidel Castro's 100th birthday on August 13, 2026.
A video of the parade, shared on Facebook by the page “Ayer y Hoy” under the title “The Most Fidelista City in Cuba – Fidel's Centennial Caravan,” showcases the three-wheeled vehicles adorned with blue and red/orange canopies traveling in a line down a wide street in the eastern city.
Visible in the background is a red-tinted building emblazoned with revolutionary slogans: “HEALTH IS SANTIAGO WITH EVERYONE'S EFFORT” and “WE SHALL OVERCOME!”—phrases that are a familiar part of the city's propagandistic landscape.
Santiago holds a significant place in the official narratives of Castro's regime: it was the site of the Moncada Barracks assault in 1953, the location from which Castro declared the victory of the Revolution in 1959, and the resting place of his ashes at Santa Ifigenia Cemetery since December 4, 2016.
The regime's media and the deceased leader himself have long heralded Santiago as the “strongest bastion of the Revolution,” a label reiterated by the government's apparatus at every anniversary.
The bicitaxi parade is part of a recurring pattern of propaganda mobilization utilized by the regime, reminiscent of anti-imperialist bike rides and youth marches with skateboards along Havana's Malecón.
The irony is stark: bicitaxis emerged during the Special Period of the 1990s as a response to fuel shortages and the collapse of public transportation. Today, they remain a widely used informal means of transport amid the ongoing energy crisis affecting the population.
The contrast is even more striking considering that just days earlier, Havana's government cracked down on noisy bicitaxis by confiscating speakers and issuing fines, while simultaneously incorporating them as visual elements in their commemorative events.
The centennial celebrations were not confined to Santiago. The regime has declared 2026 as the “Year of the Centennial,” crafting a program that begins on August 13 and runs until December 4, marking the tenth anniversary of Castro's burial.
The day's core activities included the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future,” held at Havana's Convention Palace with over 1,500 delegates from 63 countries, and a central event in Birán, Holguín, Castro's birthplace.
In Santiago, the official agenda featured floral tributes at Santa Ifigenia, special morning assemblies, discussions, and visits to the Moncada Barracks, all while the nation remains mired in a crisis of blackouts, shortages, and exodus—realities unmentioned in the official tributes.
According to Reuters, more than 1,500 activists and solidarity representatives from over 60 countries traveled to the island to partake in the events, in a diplomatic display that the regime leverages to project an image of international support, even as the Cuban population endures the repercussions of seven decades of dictatorship.
Key Insights into Fidel Castro's Centennial Celebrations
What was the purpose of the bicitaxi parade in Santiago de Cuba?
The bicitaxi parade in Santiago de Cuba was organized as part of the official events to celebrate what would have been Fidel Castro's 100th birthday, serving as a tool for propaganda mobilization by the regime.
How does the regime use Santiago de Cuba in its revolutionary narrative?
Santiago de Cuba is central to the regime's revolutionary narrative as it was the location of significant events like the Moncada Barracks assault and Fidel Castro's proclamation of the Revolution's triumph. It is also where Castro's ashes are interred.
Why are bicitaxis considered ironic symbols in the celebration?
Bicitaxis are ironic symbols in the celebration because they originated during the Special Period of the 1990s as a response to fuel shortages and have continued to be a vital form of transportation amid Cuba's ongoing energy crisis, highlighting the regime's failure to resolve longstanding issues.
What other activities were part of Castro's centennial celebrations?
In addition to the bicitaxi parade, the centennial celebrations included the First International Colloquium in Havana, floral tributes, discussions, and visits to historical sites in Santiago, despite the country's ongoing crises.