Guantanamo.- The Guantánamo cultural community, as well as the Haitian and Haitian-descended community in the territory, mourned the passing of Andrés López Odelín on April 1st at the age of 78. He was a renowned folklorist of Afro-Caribbean and Haitian traditions, a researcher, and a professor to generations of local artists.
Andrés López Odelín, better known as Mesye, also participated in the fight against bandits and was a founder of the Antonio Maceo Order Border Brigade in Guantánamo province.
Among other notable achievements, Mesye held the title of National Vanguard of the National Union of Cultural Workers (SNTC) and received the Memoria Viva (Living Memory)Award, a prize conferred by the Juan Marinello Cuban Institute of Cultural Research.
Andrés López Odelín left a legacy in Cuban culture as the founder of the Los Cossiá performing arts group, the Jagüey ensemble, the Danza Libre company, and artistic teaching, in addition to his participation in important national and international events, merits recognized through the messages of condolence published on the social networks of the territory’s cultural institutions and his disciples.
