How did Glasgow become twinned with Havana? Cities celebrate 20 year partnership

November marks 20 years since the Scottish and Cuban cities were twinned.

The alliance brought together two seemingly unconnected areas of the world. But despite the differences there’s more in common between these two cities than meets the eye.

Why did Glasgow and Cuba decide to twin with each other?

Alex Mosson, who was Glasgow’s Lord Provost in 2002, was among those who spearheaded the partnership and was the one to make it official.

The former Labour politician told the Sunday National there was special affection for Cuba at the time as the country was plunged into sharp economic decline following the USSR’s dissolution.

Music, medicine and business were the other key reasons for the partnership, he said, with the council gifting equipment to a Havana film college.

The former councillor said he was “proud” to have rubber-stamped the agreement.

“It’s important for Glasgow to make alliances and allegiances with different places in order to promote the city,” he said. “If you don’t reach out they won’t know you’re there.

“The numbers of people who came from Cuba to participate in festivals, and the trade, as a result has all been vitally important.

“We wanted to build bridges, not walls with the people of Havana. Glasgow has been in contact with Cuba for years, right into the 17th and 18th century.

“The twinning has been a great success.”

What has come of the 20-year partnership?

Perhaps the most notable thing to come from the partnership is the Glasgow Havana Film Festival. Now in its eighth year, it’s a celebration of Cuban filmmaking new and old with an array of events on offer.

The festival has brought Cubans to Scotland, and Scots to Cuba. One of those Cubans is Hugo Rivalta.

He’s a TV writer and filmmaker from Havana. Along with Glaswegian Eirene Houston, he co-directs the festival.

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While it may look markedly different from his home and it’s definitely a lot colder, he remarks wearing three layers in a Glasgow bar, people from the city are very similar to those from Havana.

“Cuban people have a certain characteristic, they’re very particular and Glasgow people are too,” he said, taking a break from teaching Scots Cuban-style salsa at the other side of Mango.

“My favourite street in the city is Sauchiehall Street. It’s very energetic. It’s noisy, there’s a lot of people, there’s music. I like it. And I think the culture here is amazing.”

Despite the tourist nature of it, he’s a big fan of the “People Make Glasgow” slogan.

“I know it sounds maybe touristy but it’s important,” he said. “Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Rome has the Colosseum but here it’s the people. You don’t need gold, you don’t need whatever because we are strong. And of course I like the whisky too.”

The Cubans who made Glasgow their home Dani Acosta, a graphic designer and filmmaker agrees, saying Scottish whisky is well-liked in Cuba.

“You give a Cuban a bottle of whisky and they’ll open their doors to you,” he jokes.

Acosta was born in Cuba but moved to Glasgow five years ago with his wife and kids. And he’s not looked back since.

“I don’t think I’m going anywhere. It’s been life-changing. The community environment is great.

“I love the connection people have. As soon as you meet with a Glaswegian and a Cuban person it’s great, there’s a joke, there’s a smile, we can drink, we can dance.

“That’s based on 20 years of the twinning I think but also the Glasgow Havana Film Festival which is my little Havana, my little piece of Cuba here in Glasgow.

“It’s not just to watch a film. It’s a space to socialise, to learn, to dance, to make jokes, talk about politics. Anything, everything.

“I am always grateful for how friendly and welcoming Scotland has been. They’ve opened their arms to me. Governments come and go but friendships always stay.

“And there’s history with the countries, there are some famous Cuban scientists who are Glaswegian descendants.”

Acosta isn’t the only person from Cuba to make a home here in Glasgow.

Farah Portela is an HR manager originally from Havana. She first visited Glasgow in 1994 when she was just 19 years old, being invited over by the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign. She made the permanent move to Scotland in 2001, later convincing her now husband to also make the move.

Farah Portela

Portela said at first she didn’t see the similarities between Glasgow and Havana but it made sense once she thought about it.

“It’s about personality,” she said. “And how friendly people from Glasgow are. People from the UK tend to be quite formal. You’re always on time.

“That doesn’t happen in Cuba. We are always late because we aren’t that formal.

“But with Glasgow, Glaswegian people have a great sense of humour and you’re quite laid back compared to the rest of the UK. And you’re very nice people, very welcoming and in that respect, we are similar.”

Portela said the twinning has allowed both countries to share their cultures with one another. Cuban culture is so rich and it’s so good. I think it’s benefited people here.

“I’ve been teaching salsa here for years. And people started to learn about Cuba, they learned Cuban salsa.

“So in a way it’s helped Cuban tourism and it’s also helped the people of Glasgow. When we do a Cuban salsa class it’s like travelling to Cuba.”

What’s the history between Glasgow and Cuba?

Cuba has a surprising number of links to Scotland. Its national anthem mentions thistles and nettles, something most people from the country have never seen.

Academic Felix Flores Varona says the country’s most important novel was also strongly influenced by Walter Scott’s Waverley. And in the 19th century, Cuba looked to Scotland as it designed its education system, with influences still seen today.

Helen Yaffe, an expert in Cuban history, and an academic at Glasgow University, said much of the history is still to be discovered.

“I love the fact that the Glaswegians just seem to have this embedded empathy and identification with Cuba,” she told the Sunday National.

“When I run courses on Cuba at the university, they fill up as soon as the registration is opened.

“There’s a history in Glasgow of solidarity with small states struggling for their independence.”

Among the growing links between the nations are efforts by Glasgow University to pair up with a university in Havana for future collaboration. This, Yaffe said, is just the beginning.