Cuba’s folk group Tambores de Bejucal

Havana, March 23 (RHC)-- Cuba’s folk group Tambores de Bejucal has just released a new rumba tune in homage to Cuban scientists and the support staff of the National Center for Bioproducts (BioCen), belonging to Cuba’s BioCubaFarma business group.

The tune, written by Dionisio Pérez Rosales, bears the name of one of the five Cuban vaccine candidates against Covid-19 ‘Soberana’.

Scientists and the staff at BioCen, are currently immersed in the production of hundreds of thousands of doses of Soberana 2, as part of phase III clinical trials for this vaccine candidate, which is currently underway in different municipalities of the capital –Havana--, involving more than 40 000 volunteers.

Another Cuban vaccine candidate ‘Abdala’ is also undergoing phase three clinical trials in the country’s eastern region.

Meanwhile, the other three Cuban vaccine candidates against Covid-19 named ‘Soberana 01’, ‘Mambisa’ and ‘Soberana Plus’, also advance favorably through different stages of clinical trials.

Cuban authorities have repeatedly said that by the end of this year 2021, the entire Cuban population will be immunized against Covid-19 with Cuban-made vaccines.

Alexis Hernández, director of the legendary group Tambores de Bejucal said that the new tune ‘Soberana’ is their tribute, from culture to all Cuban scientists and health professionals, who are contributing their efforts to the fight against the deadly disease, whether as front liners, treating patients on the island or abroad, or at research centers, developing vaccines and designing health protocols.

Founded by Robelio Pérez López (Yeyo) in 1962, Tambores de Bejucal emerged from the Berancal charangas inspired by the popular street congas tradition. They play folk music, the rumba complex (Guaguancó, Yambú, Columbia), Mozambique and Conga.

The group contributes to the training of musicians in the current province of Mayabeque by working in the community with children and amateur musicians.