• Submitted by: manso
• Editorial Articles
• 12 / 11 / 2010

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12/09/2010. By Yaimara Villaverde. The Pompadour-Santa Catalina de Ricci French Tumba, a relic of the Cuban folklore, declared First Cuban Master Pieces of the Oral and immaterial Patrimony of Humanity, celebrated its 105 years with the vitality of a young girl.

The African drums, characteristic of this music and dance expression, warned about the party, attended by the Tumba of Santiago de Cuba. It was only missed the Tumba from Sagua de Tánamo, Holguín to gather together the three only groups of this kind that life after a century of existence.

The celebration coincided with the parties for the 140 anniversary of the town of Guantanamo. It promoted dances, tributes and exchanges and was held at the seat of "la Pompadour", located in the famous neighborhood of Loma del Chivo.

Different recognitions avail the prestige and the integrity of this group, born in the coffee plantations of the eastern end of Cuba, which since its foundation is challenging dance patters and keeps its distinction unalterable.

As its equivalent, the Guantanamo French Tumba is among the main figures of the transcultural process in Cuba, derived from the migration of French settlers with their slaves, after the Haitian Revolution at the end of 18th century.

The French Tumba is among the oldest and most important music and dance expressions of the national culture, since it has a direct or indirect influence on other expressions created later on, such as the Congas or the Comparsas.

Tumba is a Conga voices that means a noisy party with drums and in its origins were celebrated by black and mulatto people, who copy the dances in the courts of their French masters, but using the African instruments.

Therefore, it is not by chance that these society include in their repertoire different dance genres such as the Polea and the Minue, which are of European essence and the Yuba, Front or Frente, expressions of the so called black continent.

Cubarte Translation Staff