Cuba hails Fidel Castro's 85th birthday
2011-08-13 20:09
Havana - Cuban artists, media, youths and even transgender activists paid tribute on Saturday to revolutionary icon Fidel Castro as he turned 85 after ill health led him to cede power five years ago.
"Cuba and Latin America sing the praises of Fidel" and "Latin America gives us its heart," national newspapers Granma and Juventud Rebelde said in their headlines as cultural galas moved into full swing, along with voluntary blood donations and book presentations.
The communist island nation has been partying since Tuesday, with concerts, ballet performances and art exhibitions organised on behalf of the man who led Cuba for nearly 50 years before handing the reins of power to his brother Raul.
A youth group from Holguin province, 760km east of Havana, set up camp in Biran, near the birthplace of the Castro brothers.
With the "commandante" absent from the festivities, 22 artists from nine countries entertained 5 000 guests including senior government leaders late on Friday with a "Serenata de la FIDELidad" (serenade of FIDELity) tribute at the Karl Marx Theatre in Havana.
A group of transsexuals meanwhile gathered at the National Centre for Sex Education to celebrate the 10th anniversary of an advocacy group.
"Of course, we are also celebrating Fidel Castro's birthday," said Cenesex director Mariela Castro, who is Raul's daughter and Fidel's niece.
Most of the events have been organised by the Guayasamin Foundation, named for the Ecuadoran painter Oswaldo Guayasamin, a close friend of Castro. The organisation is often involved in planning Castro's birthday celebrations.
However, the guest of honour did not show up.
Castro's public appearances are increasingly rare. The last came in April, at the ruling Communist Party's annual congress, when Raul officially succeeded his older brother as party leader.
Since then, Fidel has only been seen in video footage visiting ailing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as he received chemotherapy treatment in Cuba.
