Why did the Cuban government establish the Protest Song Centre in Havana?

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nueva canción Chilean folk singer Víctor Jara.

The Cuban government established the Protest Song Centre (Centro de la Canción Protesta) at the House of the Americas (Casa de las Américas) in Havana following the success of the International Protest Song Meeting (Encuentro Internacional de la Canción Protesta) held in 1967.1

This inaugural festival drew participants from more than 15 countries, highlighting the growing popularity and political influence of the genre. By creating this center, the government sought to institutionalize the movement, which in Cuba focused on resisting the cultural and economic influence of North America and Europe rather than opposing the domestic government.1