Cuba awards prizes to artists and researchers linked to popular culture

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 12 (ACN) The Memoria Viva 2023 (Living Memory) Award, granted by the Juan Marinello Cultural Research Institute, was presented today in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba to institutions, artists and researchers linked to the different expressions and genres of traditional popular culture.

Yuleidis Llopiz, research specialist at the Provincial Directorate of Culture, said that this province has shown significant results in the different editions of the award, where music and dance groups, textile and handicraft weaving techniques and personalities linked to decorations of floats, costumes and elements of congas, comparsas, rides and other traditional festivities stand out.

The presentation of 16 proposals, of which 11 were awarded as a sample of the richness in practices, works, genres and forms, characteristic of the indomitable territory.

In the category of personalities, awards were given to Tomas Padres, ambassador of chachacha in the Carabali Olugo group, Dioscorides Ferrer, carnival worker for 40 years, Osvaldo Carralero, outstanding figure in the improvised tenth and repentismo, Rosalina Despaigne, of the Cabildo Teatral Santiago, and Zoe La O, protagonist of the safeguarding of the culinary art.

The Preservation of Traditions category was awarded to the Heredia-Dumois family, founder of the Paseo Heredia dance troupe, which has been defending the carnival identity of the city of Santiago for more than eight decades; Caballito Palmiche, a legendary character of the patron saint festivities of the municipality of Palma Soriano; the Aguilera generation of musicians; the band Los Ripiao and two craftswomen, all promoters of the arts in the eastern region.

Juan Carlos Tamayo, an oral storyteller from Palma Soriano, received the Artistic Projection Award for his contribution to Cuban orality for more than 40 years.

The Living Memory Award is granted every year to outstanding personalities and groups for the rescue, revitalization and projection of the nation's culture.