Cuba commemorates 158 years since La Demajagua uprising

Cuba is commemorating the 158th anniversary of the uprising at La Demajagua, an event that marked the beginning of the Ten Years' War and the struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule. On October 10, 1868, lawyer Carlos Manuel de Céspedes liberated his slaves and issued the Manifesto of October 10, calling for equality and national emancipation.

Various commemorative ceremonies took place across the country. In Havana, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez presided over an act at the monument to Céspedes. In Sagua la Grande, local authorities held floral offerings at the Mausoleum of the Martyrs of the Homeland. In Granma, historians and students engaged in dialogues regarding the historical legacy of the revolution and its connection to modern Cuban identity.

In addition to historical commemorations, the agricultural sector marked the start of the 2026-2027 tobacco campaign in La Palma, Pinar del Río. Meanwhile, the government clarified labor regulations for the October 10 national holiday, noting that while it is a day off, workers in essential services like food production are entitled to double pay for hours worked.