Since its first edition in 1982, the Havana International Book Fair became one of Cuba’s most important cultural events. For more than four decades, the event has been a space where literature, culture, politics and history intertwine, creating a unique environment for dialog and reflection.
The main activities occur in the emblematic Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabaña, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 18th century by the Kingdom of Spain, La Cabaña was the largest military structure in Latin America and the Caribbean at the time.
The choice of La Cabaña as the fair’s main venue is no coincidence. Inspired by the motto of Cuba’s national hero José Martí, “Barricades of ideas are worth more than barricades of stones”, the place, once used to defend the island from invasions, now protects Cuba’s ideas and cultural identity. It is one of the focal points of the “Battle of Ideas”, an initiative that reflects the country’s commitment to education, culture and international solidarity.
This year, the book fair paid homage to South Africa, a country with which Cuba shares a deep history of solidarity in the fight against racism and oppression. As part of the fair, BdF talked to Afro-British historian Hakim Adi, author of the classic book Pan-Africanism: A History, recently translated and published in Cuba by the renowned Casa de las Américas.
Hakim explains that Pan-Africanism is “both an idea and a movement” that emerged “mainly among Africans and people of African descent in the diaspora.” He recognizes the common problems these groups face, such as racism, colonialism and other forms of oppression.
“Pan-Africanism recognizes that the interests of Africans and people of African descent are interconnected. Progress in one sector means progress in all sectors. These are the movement’s central ideas. Throughout history, they have taken different forms according to the challenges of each era,” she says.
Although official historiography frequently ignores social struggles in Latin America, especially the ones that took place in the Caribbean, they are more closely related to Pan-Africanism than is commonly thought. “Many people of African descent on the [American] continent were important names in Pan-Africanism, and various social struggles here served as a reference point for the movement,” Hakim points out.
“One of the most emblematic cases is Haiti, where a fundamental revolution bacame a symbol of Pan-Africanism and the liberation not only of Africa but of all peoples of African descent,” he adds.
The publication of Hakim’s book in Cuba has a special meaning since the history of the Cuban Revolution is deeply intertwined with that of Pan-Africanism.
“Cuba had a prominent place in the history of Pan-Africanism, especially in the struggle for the liberation and unity of Africa. Revolutionary Cuba played a crucial role in the independence of countries like South Africa, Namibia and Angola. There are also lesser-known connections, such as the Pan-Africanist activities of the Communist International, in which Cuba also played a significant role,” he explains.
These initiatives not only boosted Pan-Africanism but also enriched the Cuban revolutionary process. After the 1959 Revolution, Cuba became one of the few countries that actively supported national liberation struggles and decolonization processes in the African continent, confronting European imperialism.
“Cuba’s contribution to South Africa was crucial. The famous Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is one example of it. In general, many Cubans gave their lives for the country’s liberation,” he points out.
The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale (1987-1988), in Angola, was one of the most important moments in Africa’s liberation struggles. Considered one of the biggest battles on African soil since the Second World War, it took place in the context of Angola’s post-independence civil war.
During the battle, Cuban troops played a key role in defeating South African forces, which, under the apartheid regime, supported counter-revolutionary groups. These groups, in turn, received indirect support from the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel. The revolutionary victory not only guaranteed Angola’s independence but also accelerated the end of apartheid in South Africa.
Between the 1970s and 1980s, Cuba sent more than 450,000 of its citizens, including soldiers, doctors and teachers, to support the liberation and decolonization movements in Africa. This experience of internationalism allowed thousands of Cuban families to experience the struggles against colonialism and participate in the civil wars against apartheid in South Africa and Namibia.
Hakim Adi stresses that Cuba’s role in the African liberation struggles not only strengthened ties between the Caribbean island and the continent but also left a unique legacy of solidarity and cooperation.
Cuba’s contribution was so crucial that one of the first places Nelson Mandela visited after 27 years in prison was the island. There he was welcomed with the honors of a head of state. His visit coincided with the commemoration of July 26, the date Cuba celebrates National Rebellion Day, in memory of the attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953, the starting point of the Cuban Revolution.
In his emotional and memorable speech, Mandela said that “the Cuban people occupy a special place in the hearts of the peoples of Africa”, stressing that “Cuban internationalists have made a contribution to independence, freedom and justice in Africa that is unparalleled for the principles and altruism that characterize it.”
