HAVANA, Cuba. – On May 25, 1963, the Organization of African Unity was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to promote the common cause against colonialism. In 2002 it was replaced by the African Union, a promoter of regional institutions and cooperation programs with the aim of promoting peace and sustainable development.

To highlight the ephemeris, this date was established as the Day of Africa.

From that continent more than a million people were brought to Cuba between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, victims of the abhorrent slave trade. Those who survived the painful voyage came here forever.

The Spanish metropolis wanted to dominate their resistance, drowning in the trap or under the whip any attempt at rebellion against such cruelty and humiliation, but the spiritual strength of Africans and their descendants did not succumb.
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Our genes are also from Africa. The cultural values of many of their peoples, their beliefs, and customs nurtured the mestizo nationality of Cubans. They are communicating vessels through which blood joys, distastes, rebellion and hope flow.

It was necessary a revolution on the Caribbean island to feel that continent even closer to us. When it needed support for its liberation movements for independence, Cuba was there.

Now that Africa needs cooperation for development and stability, Cuba has trained thousands of young people. The first medical brigade in Algeria, fifty five years ago, was a milestone.

Others came, such as the internationalist feat for Angola and Namibia´s independences and the end of apartheid in South Africa, and also the heroic campaign in the fight against Ebola. That is solidarity, which cures and increases.