The former San Felipe de Cumanayagua celebrated its 217th anniversary last May 3, once again under the signs of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the sons and daughters of this mountainous place continue their work during the Cumanayagüense Culture Day, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Grupo Teatro de los Elementos, the 20th anniversary of the founding of the digital magazine Calle B, and, among other special tributes, the 25th anniversary of the creation of the musical group Cumanay.

About this guild, which Cumanayagua has honored on several occasions, its director Oslando Chacón Terry spoke recently in an interview, who assures that, in "his 25th", he feels much more committed to his land.

"We arrive at 2021 with online activities, above all; always rehearsing, reviewing the repertoire, and meditating during this time on how to face the public with fresh and new themes, living the constant improvement from our field", he commented.

The group, which in its beginnings did not have the current name, acquired it definitively in 2001, during one of the open tribunes held that year at the head of the village. The cultural political event, which, by the way, was attended by Army General Raúl Castro, was decisive in the adoption of "Cumanay" as an apocope of the city where it was born.

It was a period of success, and the pinnacle, the fact of being endorsed by a commission of the National Institute of Music to be part of the catalog of the Provincial Music Company of Cienfuegos, with the right to participate in the shows "Rafael Lay" of this province.

Since that moment, Cumanay has become better known, something manifest in relevant events such as the Guarachas Festival of La Tunas in 2015, or its presence in the International Tourism Fair, held in the Jardines del Rey de Ciego de Avila.

The most recent distinction acquired was the Replica of the Machete of Máximo Gómez, awarded by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), catalogued by Terry as "a great commitment", of fidelity to the culture and history of the country.

"We foresee the recording of a joint album with our most faithful composers, such as Raidel Capote or Yoel Ramos, in order to have an autonomous album with the record label that asks us to record it", Chacón Terry told the radio press.

Unfortunately, as he also stated, they will not be able to accompany the popular program Palmas y Cañas during the celebrations for the Cuban Peasant's Day, next May 17, due to the sanitary situation. However, they will continue to be paradigms of the national culture from that valley in the highlands; pride and joy for the purebred Cumanayagüenses.

English version Hector Hdez.(Azurina staff)