From Luanda to Havana: the impact of the war in Angola on Cuban cinema and music.

Abstract

This work examines the influence of Cuba´s internationalist participation in the Angolan War (1975-1991) on the artistic expressions of the island, specifically in its films and music. The study highlights how “Operation Carlota”, which involved hundreds of thousands of Cubans, transcended the military sphere to permeate national culture. Regarding Cuban films, works such as “Caravana”, “Kangamba”, “Sumbe” and others, are analyzed; by recreating the experiences of the combatants, these films achieved significant popular reception and emerged as a counter-narrative to Hollywood productions. In Cuban music, the work of artists from the Nueva Trova movement, such as Silvio Rodríguez, and groups like Karachi and Sonido Caney, whose work became inspiring soundtracks of the time, is explored. The article argues that these artistic productions were essential for processing, narrating and memorializing the Angolan experience, reinforcing cultural ties between Cuba and Africa, and leaving an indelible mark on the Caribbean nation´s contemporary cultural identity.