The Cabildo of Lanzarote presented this Monday the first edition of the Cuban Canarian Festival of Lanzarote, an initiative that seeks to celebrate the historical and cultural links between the archipelago and Cuba. The event, which will take place on April 25th and 26th, is organized by the Cultural Association of Cubans in Lanzarote Tocororo, with the collaboration of the island's Cabildo, SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, the Tourist Centers and the Arrecife City Council.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Hotel Lancelot, was attended by the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, the president of the Tocororo Cultural Association, Ricardo Padierne and the secretary of the Cuban Association, Carmen Camiñas.
President Oswaldo Betancort highlighted the importance of this event to strengthen cultural ties between the Canary Islands and Cuba. “I thank you for taking up the invitation I made to you in the past to be the link between the Canarian identity and Cuba. I am convinced that this first edition will only be the beginning of a tradition that will grow year after year, since Cuba has been the oxygen of Lanzarote, being the country that welcomed us and generated economy to send it to our island,” he commented.
For his part, the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, wanted to invite all the people of Lanzarote to participate in this celebration and pointed out that “it is important for the Cuban community, which exceeds a thousand residents in Lanzarote, that we make this twinning between the communities a reality through this festival.”
While Ricardo Padierne, president of Tocororo, said that “from our association, we have worked with passion to make this festival a reality, which will not only be a meeting place for the Cuban and Canarian community, but also a great party open to all citizens. We want this festival to be a reference in the cultural calendar of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands, in order to promote the full integration of the Cuban community.”
Likewise, the secretary of the Association of Cubans, Carmen Camiñas, explained the program that is planned for that day and pointed to the official chronicler of Teguise and president of the Board of Official Chroniclers of the Canary Islands, Francisco Hernández, who will offer an exhibition of the ties that unite the Canarian and Cuban community respectively.
The Cuban Canarian Festival of Lanzarote will offer a varied program that will include music, dance, workshops, gastronomy and performances by renowned artists from both sides of the Atlantic.
The detailed program
Friday, April 25, 2025 - Inaugural Gala
Place: Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Conference on Cuban-Canarian cultural links by Francisco Hernández, official chronicler of Teguise.
Cuban popular musical allegory.
Dance activity with snacks for attendees.
Saturday, April 26, 2025 - Grand Festival
Place: Parque Islas Canarias, Arrecife.
Schedule: From 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
11:30 a.m.: Parade from the Puente de las Bolas to the event venue.
12:30 p.m.: Official opening with authorities and the Tocororo Association.
1:00 p.m.: Performance by the Toñín Corujo Music School and magic show.
2:00 p.m.: Class and performance by the Amy Dance School.
3:30 p.m.: Performance by a folk group.
4:30 p.m.: Performance by Chucho and his group.
5:30 p.m.: Performance by Virginia Guantanamera.
7:00 p.m.: Performance by a Latin-Jazz group.
8:30 p.m.: Performance by Benito Cabrera.
9:30 p.m.: Performance by Son y Más.
The event will also have a children's area with games, paintings and balloon twisting, as well as a gastronomic area with typical products from Cuba and the Canary Islands. According to the Island Data Center of the Cabildo, there are currently about 840 people from Cuba registered in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
