Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.-The 10th International Colloquium Joel James in Memoriam began today in this city, with different approaches to the legacy of the founder of the House of the Caribbean, paradigm in the studies and promotion of the people”s traditional culture in this region.

The event will last until January 13, on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of the important essay writer, historian and anthropologist, who died in 2006 and was also acknowledged for sponsoring the International Festivals of the Caribbean, which began in 1981 and have been held 36 consecutive times.

At the opening lecture, Agustin Lao Montes, academician from the University of Amherst, the United States, spoke about James’ thinking and project, faced with the Socialism of the 21srt century, with a reflection, in which he established points of contact with the historic leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro.

During the panel ‘Caribbean, Culture and Society,’ the participants tackled angles related to the left-wing thinking in Haiti during the period of the US intervention until Duvalier’s dictatorship and to the contributions by Susy Castor to the creation of the culture and identity of the Haitian people.

The challenges and prospects of cultural tourism and heritage in Cuba will be the topic of the conference that academician Jesus Guanche will give, as part of a program that includes analysis of the view of the world history and the contribution to the studies on coloniality by Joel James.