The América Theater in Havana hosted the concert Mi Son Entero on Friday, marking the first public tribute to the son music genre since its inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The gala was organized by the Cuban Music Institute, the National Council of Cultural Heritage, and the regional office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Havana.

Held in celebration of Cuban Son Day, the event brought together emblematic groups and performers such as the Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro, Yarima Blanco and Son Latino, Yosander y Agranel, Vania Borges, María Victoria, Geydi Chapman, and Maikel Dinza, alongside invited dance companies, in an artistic showcase that blended music, dance, and poetry.

In remarks to Prensa Latina, Anne Lemaistre, director of UNESCO’s Regional Office in Havana, stated that “son is the father of all musical genres in Cuba; even jazz can be considered a child of son.” She added that the genre “truly transcends all borders, so for us it was time to complete the inscription and give this cultural expression international recognition.”

During her speech at the gala, Lemaistre paid tribute to iconic figures of the genre, including Adalberto Álvarez, Trío Matamoros, Joseíto Fernández, El Guayabero, Compay Segundo, and Arsenio Rodríguez.

Meanwhile, Indira Fajardo, president of the Cuban Music Institute, received the official certificate recognizing son music as Intangible Cultural Heritage on behalf of the communities that preserve the tradition.

In exclusive comments to Prensa Latina, Fajardo said that “this is the first Cuban Son Day concert held after the practice was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; it is a moment of joy and celebration, a gift to the cultural bearers who made this recognition possible.”

She added that “to speak of son is also to speak of patriotism, of essence, of our most defining traditions, and to remember those who danced, lived, and felt a passion for son music.”

Among the distinguished guests attending the grand concert were Norma Goicochea, Dulce María Buergo, and Sonia Virgen Pérez.

On stage, Lemaistre described the concert as “a true chronicle of the Cuban people and an example of transculturation,” while Fajardo emphasized that son music embodies both Spanish and African traditions within the essence of Cuban culture, passed down from generation to generation.

The celebration reaffirmed son music as a living expression of identity, social cohesion, and popular creativity, as well as a cultural legacy that transcends borders.