Monday, 28 November 2011 13:44
Monument for the 8 medical students at La Punta. Photo de L. Calvo
Since November 27th 2006 a group of Havanans are paying tribute to five black young men, members of the Abakuá religion, who participated in an event totally unknown (or ignored by) in Cuban history: The attempt to free eight medical students in the morning of November 27th 1871, moments before they were shot by some violent Spanish soldiers. A dreadful crime that is very well-known in Cuba where eight innocent people mistakenly were condemned (there is proven evidence of their innocence).
It was a very intrepid action, it was suicide. The five Abakuás, situated behind the pits in front of Plaza de la Punta - the place chosen for the execution of the students - "shot with their revolvers into the group of volunteers", reported the newspaper La Quincena. The head of the volunteer force (artillery) who commanded the group in charge of the shooting of the students, described the heroic moment in a letter to his brother: "Some black men shot against a group of artillery volunteers whose lieutenant died. The group immediately started attacking the five blacks and they were torn to pieces".
What was the motivation of these young Abakuás to realize this bold attempt? There are two versions: It's said that one of the black men was the stepbrother of Alonso Álvarez de la Carmpa, one of the students who were supposed to get shot, and so he convinced other Ekobios (religious brothers) to take on this risky mission and, if necessary, to sacrifice themselves. The other interpretation states that the above mentioned Alonso Álvarez de la Campa was an Ekobio himself, meaning that he was member of the Abakuá society and belonged to the power of Akanarán Efó Muñón and so he had to be helped.
The Secret Society of Abakuás was founded in Havana in 1836, it is older than the flag or the national shield. Although it was forbidden during different areas, this religious order and at the same time masculine society of mutual help has turned into a symbol of the island for many people. Only men can become members, according to the principle that "A man is not only who is not homosexual, but who reflects the purest dignity of the human kind, such as hardworking, brotherly, joyful, rebellious against injustice, and has to fulfill the moral code introduced by the ancestors and founders of Abakuá; they are good fathers, sons, brothers and friends". Honoring these rules the five black men who still remain anonymous, bravely fighted in the name of honor and justice, with such a deep feeling of identity that they were able to die for it, which makes them deserve recognition in our history.
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