Youth Redefine Cuban Identity

Standing on top of this rock wall overlooking the MalecÛn at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a spot reserved for tourists, typically invites security and a prompt ejection. These are everyday small acts of defiance. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Paula Fernandez, 25, a member of the female electronic DJ duo, Pauza, spins at La Romana, a club in Havana. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Pompi, 26, member of Havana Queens. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Yosmel Azcuy, 28, a professional break dancer, holds the hand of his wife, Guirmaray Silva, 29, as they wait for the electricity to come back on in their apartment in Havana. These power outages can occur weekly because of a crumbling infrastructure. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

A young Cuban rides in a taxi through Centro Havana, where goods from the US are now regularly seen. Wearing items from the US have become a status symbol for Cubans. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Cuban teens have a smoke during a pool party at Miramar Chateau, a hotel near the beach in Havana. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Young Cubans gather along the Malecon in Havana to show off their latest fashion, listen to music and party. A new style is developing from clothing brought in from the US to Europe, with Cubans mixing and matching to their own taste. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Gabriel Garcia works as a model and helps run a dance studio in Havana. He, like many young Cubans, wants more access to travel. But in a break from previous generations, he wants to live in Cuba. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

A couple kiss during the opening ceremonies of the Caribe Games, Havana University's annual sporting competition where teams from different departments compete in athletic competitions. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

Anna Marie Mesa, 16, listens to music on her smartphone in Centro Havana. Technology is leapfrogging the infastructure in Cuba where citizens went from landlines to smartphones in a matter of months. From Havana Youth by Greg Kahn.

“When Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government in 1959, it signaled a move to emphasize the collective state over the individual, “ writes photographer Greg Kahn, author of the forthcoming photo book Havana Youth (Yoffy Press). “Castro’s philosophy was to educate students to be an asset in society, not for uniqueness.”

In Havana Youth, Kahn explores Cubans born after 1989, who have only known a time after the USSR dissolved and left the Caribbean nation with few resources and a growth-crippling, US-led economic embargo. Those kids, born during what is called “The Special Period,” are now in their twenties and developing a sense of individuality in a society that was historically focused on collectivism. After Fidel ceded power to his brother in 2008, Havana’s youth began experiencing influences from across the globe; they are focused on the present, not burdened by the past.

Clothes, which are designed and chosen to reflect desires, are an important part of the unfolding sense of identity. “Clothes have a strong connotation here, like a journalist writing an article against the government,” states fashion blogger Miguel Leyva, adding, “It means to be free.”

“Although the Cuban youth identity is evolving rapidly, the choices they make are authentic,” writes Kahn. “This is their counter-revolution. And they are redefining what it means to be Cuban.”

Havana Youth
Photographs by Greg Kahn
Introduction by Ariana Hernandez-Reguant
Yoffy Press