"Onilé" celebrates its 25th anniversary

Her eyes shine when she remembers those beginnings in which, being an art instructor of the Tomasa Varona cultural center, she was entrusted to create a dance group that distinguished the province. Although she always thought that it was folkloric, her idea was not totally accepted. They asked her for one of another nature.

But in a dream, her grandmother Alicia (from Jamaica) had exhorted her to persist, her mother (Mariana) also supported her; besides Alberto Torres, then provincial director of Culture, Marlén Martínez and Marina Lourdes Jacobo, workers of the sector, among other colleagues. She did not give up.

"Onilé" celebrates its 25th anniversaryThus Josefina Taylor, the leader since that genesis, is a happy woman. The Onilé Folklore Company has many reasons to celebrate its 25 years defending our idiosyncrasy. The traditional dances of the peasants, Yoruba, Congo and, especially, the French-Haitians, find in that cast faithful conservative believers.

This prestigious group first had the name Oggún Laddé and then the current one, which refers to one of the paths of warrior Oggún, of the Yoruba religion and considered the patron saint of Las Tunas. It is, for example, one of the representatives of the rumba, declared as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Its headquarters, in El Cabildo San Pedro Lucumí, in the historical center, hosts rehearsals that give life to memorable shows such as Bembé. Stage projection, teamwork, mastery of the stage..., are words that the visitor hears when approaching there, and which enrich their repertoire. Now they are preparing to present Los Lwá, in the advent of the Cuban Culture Day next October 20.

"Prior to each presentation, there is a research work that allows the 36 members of the company to delve into our roots and, above all, to know what is the message we want to transmit to the public. In this process we have approached town councils from different places in the province such as El Ocho de Macagua," says Josefina, who has more than 40 years of artistic life.

Wilberto Alicio Quindelán, choreographer, first-level dancer, percussionist and founder of that brotherhood, says: "We always try to have our own stamp. We have performed at festivals in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and other territories, with good reception. The union of the collective, the dedication, the love and the professional quality are ingredients that affect the results obtained inside and outside the province."

For Taimí Franco Vargas, one of the singers, the desire to grow by making traditions prevail characterizes them. "We put passion to the rehearsals and, from there, we realize ourselves as artists", she points out.

Certainly, the International Event of African Culture and other spaces have been witnesses of the eagerness of this group to rescue an important part of the identity of the Island.