Reaching the Guantanamo remote community of Mandinga involves climbing more than 18 miles from the municipality of Baracoa, by a narrow paved road hindering transit.
Reaching the Guantanamo remote community of Mandinga involves climbing more than 18 miles from the municipality of Baracoa, by a narrow paved road hindering transit.
Among the residents of Mandinga there´s the legend whose name comes from the practice of sorcery that characterized these contours years ago, others say the nickname "tierra o casa del diablo” (land or house of the devil) was given by its long distance from the city of Baracoa.
The truth is that today, the religious practices of those surroundings have changed and the name "devil", was not anymore. Furthermore, the distance of the main town is still the same, but services and offers have increased in the same rural area.
Today Mandinga is a community that has the charm of reanimation of works of social and economic interest. Hence it was recognized as Community Reference, one of the first declared in the municipality of Baracoa by the Provincial Commission of the Turquino Plan.
"Mandinga is now a beautiful place, and that motivates us to be the hardest working people and at the same time as much fun as we usually are" Mirmedi says, not to mention the festivals held with the contribution of the community.
Besides this festival, in summer time and other special moments during the year, sports and traditional games are also carried out.
In the community art creation through the activities like crafts by cultural promoters, who make miniature dolls, cars and balls to encourage children during competitions are also performed.
Translation: Ilia Charon