The 31st edition of the Havana International Poetry Festival officially kicked off on Monday, opening a new chapter for lovers of poetry and continuing Cuba’s deep-rooted poetic tradition. The festival will run through May 31 and is dedicated to Cuba’s National Hero, José Marti.
Poets from across the globe, including China, the United States, the Netherlands, Serbia, several African nations, and Latin America, are participating in this year’s event. A major highlight is the “Meeting of Poets for Peace in Defence of Humanity,” set to take place at the National Library.
Monday’s activities included a tribute to Jose Marti, often referred to as the Apostle of Cuban Independence, held at the Ministry of Culture. The session featured historian and journalist Pedro Pablo Rodriguez, a noted scholar of Marti’s work. Other events are being held across multiple cultural institutions in Havana.
Speaking on national television, poet Alex Pausides, who serves as the festival’s president, announced that the main venue for the week-long celebration is the Dulce Maria Loynaz Cultural Centre in Vedado. He noted that this year’s Meeting of Poets for Peace is dedicated to Palestine and the global fight for peace.
Pausides emphasised the festival’s grassroots focus, saying that poets will engage with schools, local communities, and institutions in Havana’s Scientific Pole. These include the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the Finlay Institute of Vaccines.
43
