The 7th Nicolas Guillen Colloquium and Festival on Music and Poetry, to be held in this capital from March 30 to April 2, will be dedicated to the Haitian people.

He specified that intellectuals and artists should work so the great world contributions made by that people are returned with constant solidarity, and not to allow the media to silence it, after the news explosion caused by the tragic earthquake that devastated that nation on January 12.

Hernandez also said that this edition will pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of the publication of the Motivos de Son collection of poems, and that the academic event will focus on diversities and inequalities in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation and other social and cultural aspects.

The event’s venues will be the Martinez Villena Hall of the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists, and the University of Havana’s Faculty of Arts and Letters. Keith Ellis, Mayra Espina, Miguel Lorente, Yolanda Wood and Marta Nuñez are among the personalities that have confirmed their presence.

The artistic program will include a fine arts presentation by painter Manuel Mendive, poetry recitals, and performances by the Schola Cantorum Coralina choir, pianist Ernan Lopez Nussa, the group Obini Bata, and Jose Luis Cortes and his band, among other artists.

Hernandez pointed out that the Foundation’s objective is to spread knowledge and, consequently, all of the event’s sessions will be admission free.