Cockfighting is one of the most popular pastimes among Cubans, especially in the more rural areas of the island and on the outskirts of cities.

Getting to the location of the illegal fight was not easy. Through our fixer, we managed to contact the organization, which initially hesitated. We literally had to bribe some individuals with a small fee in pesos to gain entry. The journey through the countryside was long and rugged, and we got lost several times.

After a few hours, navigating a remote trail deep in the countryside far outside Santiago de Cuba, we finally arrived at the designated fighting arena.

After a brief wait amid shouts and dust, the match was about to begin. Under the shade of large trees, a ring made of reeds had been set up for the fight.

The preparation of the animals, the betting, the food, and the illicit alcohol blended with the voices of the bettors, while one of the organizers gestured for us to enter the cage where the fight would take place. Our group, consisting of five photographers, was locked in alone with the roosters in the vast reed cage. They informed us that we couldn’t move from the designated spot on the side of the cage to avoid interfering with the fight.

Before getting their rooster into the arena, they must have it inspected by a sort of veterinarian. Then, the rooster is weighed and registered before being prepared for the fight. Just before the fight begins, the competitors can attach spurs and wax to their rooster’s legs. As the roosters were being prepared for the match a “broker” collected bets on the fight, jotting down the names of the bettors and the amount wagered on a sheet of paper.

The spectacle was particularly brutal, and the match, lasting ten minutes, measured by an hourglass, ended with the death of one of the two animals.