With the symbolic laying of the first stone of the José Antonio Aponte Memorial at the beginning of the Patriotic Patrimonial axis, located on Avenida de la Independencia, the government of Havana today joined the celebrations for Africa Day.

The ceremony was attended by Fernando Rojas, Deputy Minister of Culture, Tatiana Viera, Coordinator of Objectives and Programs of the Government of Havana, representatives of the Party, the Aponte Commission, UNEAC, and civil organizations.

Tatiana Viera specified that José Martí considered Aponte a precursor to our wars of independence and the historian José Luciano Franco described his movement as the first national conspiracy.

For his part, René Negrín, plastic artist, in charge of the project, whose idea arose 12 years ago, stressed that this monument must be seen as part of the struggle of the national commissions that have been created to combat the problem of discrimination in Cuba and all the historical events that have had to do with this issue.

Today we have, he said, a higher level of sensitivity in relation to the subject.

José Antonio Aponte y Ulabarra, a black Creole and a free man, led the first national conspiracy recorded in the history of Cuba.

Currently, the Commission that bears his name, in the UNEAC, is one of those in charge of directing everything related to the fight against racism and discrimination in Cuba.

One of the main fruits of this fight has been the emergence in 2019 of the National Program against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

In Cuba, May 25 acquires a special significance due to the deep relationship that unites Cubans with African peoples.

On that day in 1963, African leaders meeting in Addis Ababa expressed their determination to achieve independence by creating the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union.

Since last May 19, the day of celebration for Africa Day began, as part of which various activities have been developed.

This celebration also becomes an opportunity to reflect on the main problems that hinder the development of the region, such as war, inequality, famine, corruption, among others.