“There is no Saturday without sun, nor Sunday without love.” “There are two variables in the sky: the rain falls or the sun shines.” “The sun does not forget a village, no matter how small.” “If Olorum cannot kill me, no one can”.” The sun rises, the day wakes up for the man to go to work. “” The worker is always in the sun, the owner of the plantation, always in the shade “” What is the bull in the east that gives birth to calves and devours them? … the sun “….

I have shared with you some proverbs, sayings, riddles, mostly belonging to African culture, that which largely makes up ours; which is a great mix and what the incomparable Fernando Ortiz says “an ajiaco”, all refer to the sun, to that miraculous star that is essential to our existence.

The sunlight is coming…

Today I am going to talk about the sun, about light, because that means Olorum, a Yoruba word used by believers to implore and beg for breath for life. That is why the Camagüey Folkloric Ballet, a collective that assumes with masterful excellence the identity and integrating cultural elements of Cuban culture as a truly artistic event, chose this name to baptize the Festival that since 2003 has been held biannually in our city ​​and that brings together the best of the country’s folk dance musician manifestations; with the purpose of exchanging both practical and theoretical knowledge and thus turn it into an event that nurtures, strengthens and renews traditional popular culture, which according to experts: it is the only folk dance festival held in the country.

This event is an important occasion, which constitutes a great town festival and preserves their customs and traditions, the delivery of the Olorum Prize to recognize the work of a lifetime of creators in folk art, as well as to honor the Aché Distinction of outstanding personalities in this task.

This year, to our satisfaction, it will be held from December 21st to 23rd, and as always it will have an important program that will include squares, parks, institutions, theaters, in short, a whole merriment as usually happens in this city, as well as we will also be able to enjoy the presence of significant figures of national art and culture and from our land.

Remembering…

Regarding this new edition, I remembered when the teacher and friend Reinaldo Echemendía Estrada, director and creator of the prestigious company that leads this unique event, had the deference of inviting me in 2005 to be part of the jury that would deliver the Aché Distinction for the first time, awarded on that occasion to the amazing teacher and prima ballerina of the National Folk Ensemble, Silvina Favart, who was kind enough to give a master class that is still remembered by participating dancers and musicians.

I remember how much emotion existed when dedicating that year the event to the deceased teacher Lázaro Ross, an essential figure in Yoruba historiography, and to Luis Mariano Zayas (Quintín), perhaps “the most conguero from Camagüey”, as the press release issued by our weekly Adelante on Saturday April 9th, 2005 described him

Bode well…

With the assurance that this will be a more mature Olorum, also loaded with a greater effort for all that we have had to live, with a special feeling and full of that humanism that characterizes us.

I say goodbye, but I do so with a thought of that great man who taught us and contributed so many values, José Martí, when referring to the star king, recognizing him in all his dimensions and calling us to always look at the bright side of each thing, of each event, of every opportunity…

“The sun burns with the same light that it warms. The sun has spots. The ungrateful speak only of the spots. The grateful speak of the light.”

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García