The Euskal Etxea in Cuba will once again celebrate Aberri Eguna with an entire week of events in Havana. The events began last Monday with the inauguration of Euskal Astea with a gathering of Basque students and friends of the club with a group of guests to continue the various offerings that include film, talks and food events, as well as a Mus tournament hosted by the Athletic Peña in Cuba. The program will conclude on Sunday with a big Aberri Eguna celebration that will include Basque and Cuban cultural expressions.
Havana, Cuba. The Basque club in Cuba is one of the oldest in the world. Founded in the 1870s under the name of the Basque-Navarran Charity Association of Havana, it was preceded by some years by a Basque club in the city of Matanzas. The Havana club is more commonly known as the Euskal Etxea of Cuba or the Kubako Euskal Etxea. The club has gone through various phases in its history and is enjoying a resurgences over the last few years thanks to its board of directors led by Renato Garcia Eguzquiza. Since Aberri Eguna is a big deal to Basques on the island, attendance is expected to exceed the limits of the clubhouse. The latest editions of the event have included an entire week of events to share the Basque culture with the locals, as well as encourage the Basque-Cuban brotherhood.
Following last year’s example, this year’s festivities also included a kick off in preparation for Sunday’s Basque Week Aberri Eguna celebration that is dedicated this year to the Durango Book Fair. Today’s program includes a talk entitled, “Knowing Basque Cuisine,” by a chef from Karlos Argiñano’s Cooking School, in the Madera room at the club’s provisional headquarters.
On Saturday, there will be another talk at 2pm about “The Basque Culture, Yesterday and Today,” by Professor Nekane Goikoetxea from the Basque Country, at the same place. Afterwards, around 4pm, the Mus Tournament will begin, organized by Cuba’s Athletic Peña.
Sunday, Aberri Eguna, will be the last day of Euskal Astea with an entire day of events for young and old, families as well as Basques visiting the island to celebrate a Cuban version of the holiday. The festivities will include a mix of Basque and Cuban cultural elements with music, bertsos, food, games and a great, fun and festive atmosphere. It will begin at 11:30 and will run until 6pm at the Cecilia cultural Center (112 e/ 3ra y 5ta Ave, Playa).
The events of the Euskal Astea begun this year with a get-together on Monday including club members and Basque students along with guests, who inaugurated the week’s activities. On Wednesday there wias a screening of the documentary Nomadak TX Oreka Tx, again at the provisional clubhouse on Paseo de Marti (Prado) nº 309, second floor.
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