This post was written by Hatchet Reporter Lizzie Hay

University Yard transformed into a Cuban oasis during the first annual GW Cuban Music Festival, on Saturday. The event, hosted by Students for a Free Cuba, had entertainment and food to get students immersed in the rich culture of the tiny Caribbean island. 

Rudy Mayor, president of Students for a Free Cuba, said that the group began planning the festival last spring. The event aimed to “educate the public about the political situation in Cuba” through the use of traditional Cuban culture, said Mayor.

Brittney Morrett, vice president of the student group, said that University Yard was the perfect location for the festival.

“We were looking to book spaces in D.C. that were family friendly and would provide a space for a cultural exchange,” she said.

Music played a big role during the event, with several groups making appearances throughout the day. The Spam Allstars, a Cuban jazz group, played a set, as well as rapper mikiflow. Other acts like Delexilio combined funk, rock and Latin musical styles to create a uniquely Cuban sound.

Mayor said the festival was a success, and hopes that it becomes a permanent fixture on the group’s events calendar.