Page 235 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

SANTIA GO DE CUBA  233

Carnival in Santiago de Cuba

The roots of the Carnival in Santiago are religious: since the end of the 17th century
there have been processions and festivities from 24 June to 26 July in honour of the
city’s patron saint, Santiago Apóstolo. At the end of the parade, slaves who were
members of the cabildos – societies that kept alive African languages, traditions and
beliefs – were allowed to go out into the streets, where they sang to the accompaniment
of drums, rattles and other instruments. These were the forerunners of the comparsas,
the soul of Carnival: groups of people wearing masks or costumes, dancing to the
rhythm of the conga and carrying streamers, banners and farolas (brightly coloured
paper street lamps). In the second half of July the whole town celebrates, every district
taking part in the parades, each with at least one comparsa.

The young people in each
quarter meet every
evening except Monday
in the focos culturales,
places where they
prepare for Carnival by
rehearsing the dances
and music they will
perform in July.
Parades go through the streets of
Santiago. Some of the comparsas,
The type of tumbadora such as the Cabildo Carabalí Izuama
used in the conga (see p281), date from the 19th century.
The musicians in each
group are dressed alike.
They are followed by a
crowd swaying to the
rhythm of the music.
The Conga
The chief dance for
Carnival is the conga (also
a genuine musical genre).
People form a procession
and dance through
the streets, following a
band playing various
instruments, including
different kinds of drums,
and led by the trompeta
china, introduced to Cuba
in the late 1800s.
The bombo,
The Tropicana de Santiago joins the a drum with
procession with the other comparsas, a deep sound
and also presents open-air
performances in lavish costumes.

Papier mâché masks
or gigantes are an
essential part of a
Carnival float. Huge
and brightly coloured,
they often represent
animals or caricatures
of human faces.

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