In almost 30 years, the Seynois Bayamo festival has attracted, built the loyalty of and attracted thousands of people. Créé in 1997 by the eponymous association entirely dedicated to Cuban culture, this well-established meeting was thought up and orchestrated by its president Marie-Hélène and her husband Jorge Jimenez Perez, himself a musician and originally from La Havana.
Historically based at Fort Napoléon, then after a quick visit to Fort Balaguier, the festival has offered memorable summer evenings at the Navale Park in recent years. But he will not come back next Julyto the great dismay of aficionados, many of whom have reacted since the couple’s announcement on social networks this Sunday evening. “We made this difficult decision because of the ever-increasing reductions in subsidies, particularly from the Department, which had cut it by more than 20%. And knowing that the other partners (the City, the Metropolis, the Region and some private partners) could never have compensated.specifies Ms. Jimenez Perez, who strived to distill a demanding, authentic and unique program throughout the Paca region. But also completely free, since its installation at the Naval.
“Perhaps organize more one-off events”
The president of Bayamo nonetheless remains “Recognizing” towards all these institutions, without whom this beautiful and long adventure could not have existed. And she unfortunately does not believe in a resurrection of the event, at least not in its original form. “I frankly don’t think so, given the current situation in the country and the fact that local authorities find themselves increasingly cut off from state funding. Which necessarily has repercussions at the local level. This is the sad consequence of the state’s lack of interest in culture.e, or in any case to a certain form of culture…
But the Cuban spirit in La Seyne did not die with the end of the famous festival: “Beyond the bond between people – some even came from abroad – that our festival created around Cuban culture, there are still salsa classes which took place in parallel, the Peña de Bayamo (one-off concerts) and our Sunday afternoon concerts at the Philharmonic of La Seyne ». Ms. Jimenez Perez specifies that “La Ville continues à nous soutenir”and that she even thinks “how to organize more one-off events, perhaps by joining forces with other structuresâ€â€¦ “And why not, she sayspropose next year to the town hall to organize a single large and beautiful Cuban concert? Unless I win the lottery! So there, I would organize a free mega festival »she smiled.
Alors, see you, Bayamo!
