A unique initiative dubbed “La Guaguandunga” is bringing a cheerful spirit to communities across Granma province, an area recently hit hard by earthquakes. The name cleverly combines "guagua" (bus) and "sandunga" (a lively Cuban music style), capturing the project's essence of mobile merriment.
Yudelkis Ortiz, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Granma, shared on Facebook that the project, led by singer and composer José Alberto Tamayo, known as El Ruiseñor, reached the municipality of Pilón, one of the worst affected regions. “Thank you, Ruiseñor. The best Guaguandunga in Cuba, because it’s the only one, is in Pilón lifting spirits and providing information as it travels through neighborhoods. It deserves the Nobel Prize for Infinite Love,” she expressed.
A Traveling Beacon of Hope and Information
Yordan Roberto León Rodríguez, the Provincial Director of Culture, also took to Facebook to announce that “La Guaguandunga” performed in Sevilla, a locality in Pilón, on Wednesday before heading to the municipal center. “Today, it worked in Sevilla and then joined cultural activities in the municipal center. It concluded its journey in the Los Edificios area, where residents from nearby neighborhoods gathered. Tomorrow, Thursday, it will reach other communities,” the official noted.
According to El Ruiseñor, the creator, the project is described as “the flavor that arrives on wheels, to the neighborhood, without having to wait for anyone.” While primarily a source of music, dance, and entertainment, this project also pauses its performances to deliver crucial information to the people of Granma in times of need.
From Entertainment to Essential Communication
The government-run newspaper La Demajagua reported on Facebook that recently, this exceptional bus was utilized to inform residents about Tropical Storm Rafael, which later escalated into a powerful hurricane, along with safety measures to follow. This highlights the versatility and importance of "La Guaguandunga" beyond just entertainment.
Following the earthquakes last Sunday, the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) has kept track of ongoing aftershocks. On Thursday, the institution announced a total of 2,665 seismic activities have been documented. “Overall, 2,665 aftershocks have been recorded since the 6.0 and 6.7 magnitude quakes on November 10, with approximately 90 being noticeable,” detailed the CENAIS bulletin on their website.
The seismic activity's major impact is concentrated in Granma province, where at least 3,518 homes have suffered damage. Luis Roja Yero, technical deputy director of the Provincial Housing Directorate in Granma, informed La Demajagua that 513 partial collapses have been reported, including 54 total structural failures, 38 complete roof collapses, and 313 partial roof failures.