Without holding to a particular era or generation, Elpidio Valdés is one of those original creations that live outside of time and are destined to leave traces in the popular imagination: an animated character who was born to live forever.

The mambí, independentist guerrilla, manigüero, and insurrectionist saw the light for the first time on August 14, 1970 in the Pionero magazine, drawn by the hand of the Cuban cartoonist Juan Padrón, and since then he forms part of the identity of the nation, with his hundreds of stories taken to literature, television, and cinema.

A character as real as the heroes representing every facet of his personality: irreverent and combative, always ready to embody the idea of independence and sovereignty from his position as Colonel of the Cuban Liberation Army that in the 19th century confronted Spanish colonialism.

From the youngest to the oldest, they enjoy his adventures amidst laughter and expectation, because of his originality, Cubanness and criollo humor, which has allowed him to permeate the popular taste and become part of the cultural heritage of the largest archipelago of the Antilles.

Produced by the Cuban Institute of Arts and Film Industry (Icaic), this insurrectionist has inspired three feature films, whose stories cover the death of his father and the beginning of the War of Independence, the efforts to bring a shipment of weapons from the United States to Cuba and his adventures during the U.S. intervention.

From 1974 to 2000, two dozen chapters were made, among which stand out adventures such as the military train, the convoy, against the New York police, the encounter with Palmiche (his horse), the confrontation with the rayadillos, the story of the machete, the gunboat, the assault on Jutía Dulce, when he is captured, his wedding with María Silvia, among others.

The speech in his comic books are part of the popular Cuban slang in such a way that it is common to hear in the streets phrases like 'hasta la vista, compay', 'a ti qué duele, Pelirroja', 'oye, oye, la candela es aquí', 'la contrainteligencia es la contrainteligencia chavá' or 'caballero, al machete y con la lú apagá'.

Each of the characters in this cartoon marks his transcendence, both friends and enemies make Elpidio what he is today, and his stories need María Silvia, his horse Palmiche, the enemy General Resóplez, Pepito, Eutelia, the captain of the counter-guerrilla, Media Cara, the inventor Oliverio, Cortico, Fico...

An essential aspect of this animated film are the voices, which have been performed by Cuban artists Frank González, Tony González, Manuel Marín, Eddy Vidal, María Eugenia García, Irela Bravo, Juan Julio Alfonso, Teresita Rúa, and Erdwin Fernández.

In five decades, it has not been possible to make 'picadillo' or 'papilla de tortilla de masé de talco' and the 'Hispanic lions' have not managed to break the rogue manigüero, that in each adventure assures: 'we still need to use our machetes against the enemy'.

Cubans pay tribute to him with the campaign called MuchoMachetePorDarTodavía. The idea for this tribute was developed by the Ministry of Culture, the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets (FCBC), Icaic, Animados, Icaic and the La Manigua Cultural and Creative Center.

Several actions are part of this initiative, including the launch of their profiles on Facebook and Instagram (@ElpidioValdésOficial), the publication of stickers with the mythical phrases of the series and the launch of a website with information about each of the characters.

The Collage Ediciones of FCBC join the celebration with the presentation of the book 50 years of Elpidio Valdés, which offers more than 200 pages of comics.