Cuba Celebrates Fernando Ortiz on the Anniversary of His Birth

Cuba commemorates today the 144th anniversary of the birth of anthropologist and historian Fernando Ortiz.

Roberto Morales, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, stated on the social media platform X that "his monumental work must be further disseminated" and acknowledged the prolific life of a man who dedicated his encyclopedic knowledge to serving the nation.

"On a day like today, Don Fernando Ortiz was born. He dedicated his encyclopedic knowledge to building the nation. His monumental work must be even more widely disseminated. #CubaLivesInItsHistory," Morales posted on July 16, 2025.

Fernando Ortiz was an anthropologist, jurist, archaeologist, and journalist who studied the Afro-Cuban historical and cultural roots. He made significant contributions to the understanding of the sources of national culture.

Due to his research, he is considered the third discoverer of Cuba, following Christopher Columbus and Alexander von Humboldt. His concept of transculturation marked a milestone in anthropology, and his body of work has been declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation.