New Book on Relations between Fidel Castro and Cuban Artists

The book “Fidel y la Cultura” (Fidel and Culture), considered a necessary tool to understand the past, present and future of Cuban artistic creation, was launched Friday in Havana during the opening of the 10th Congress of the Cuban Writers and Artists’ Association (UNEAC).

The book is the work of audiovisual artist Luis Morlote and historian Elier Ramirez, published by the Latin American Ocean Sur publishing house. It is a compilation of dialogs between the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution with Cuban artists of different generations.

The president of the Havana-based Casa de Las Americas cultural institution, Abel Prieto, said that those who intend to understand Fidel Castro’s vision of culture must read the book and learn about his contribution to Cuban cultural associations like UNEAC.

Prieto said that Fidel was a visionary as he insisted that only culture can guarantee freedom from a wide and anti-colonialist perspective.

The book promotes critical thinking in times when some values foreign to us are being promoted as part of what he described as cultural colonialism, Prieto said and added that “Fidel y la Cultura” encompasses a strong message amidst the current world ethical and cultural crisis, and an antidote against neoliberalism.