Death of Tata Guines
Death of Tata Guines, Cuban conga drummer, his six decade career helped popularize Afron rhythms worldwide
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
2008 in Cuba
Explore 38 historical events and records for Cuba in 2008.
Historical records for Cuba in 2008
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 38 of 38 unique records.
38Unique records
1 of 1Page
18Named events on this page
5Named people on this page
1Places on this page
February
President of Cuba
Raul Castro became the new President, the islands Parliament appoints revolutionary leader Jose Ramon Machado for the Governments No. 2 spot
President of Cuba
Raul Castro became the new President, the islands Parliament appoints revolutionary leader Jose Ramon Machado for the Governments No. 2 spot
Health of Fidel Alejandro Castro
An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigns as Cuba's President after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when Parliament meets Feb 24
Resignation of Fidel Alejandro Castro
An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigns as Cuba's President after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when Parliament meets Feb 24
March
Ban
New President Raul Castros Government lifts a ban on Cubans staying at hotels previously reserved for foreigners
April
Death of Norberto Collado Abreu
Norberto Collado Abreu, the helmsman of the Granma yacht that carried Fidel Castro from Mexico to Cuba to launch his revolution in 1956, dies in Havana
Economy of Cuba
Cubans snapped up DVD players, motorbikes and pressure cookers for the first time as Raul Castros new Government loosens controls on consumer goods and invites private farmers to plant tobacco, coffee and other crops on unused state land
Granma
Norberto Collado Abreu, the helmsman of the Granma yacht that carried Fidel Castro from Mexico to Cuba to launch his revolution in 1956, dies in Havana
Nationalization
Cubans snapped up DVD players, motorbikes and pressure cookers for the first time as Raul Castro's new Government loosens controls on consumer goods and invites private farmers to plant tobacco, coffee and other crops on unused state land
Economy of Cuba
New regulations allow thousands of Cubans to get title to state-owned homes, a step that might lay the groundwork for broader housing reform
Reform of Housing
New regulations allow thousands of Cubans to get title to state-owned homes, a step that might lay the groundwork for broader housing reform
Economy of Cuba
Lines stretch for blocks outside phone centres as the Government allows ordinary Cubans to sign up for cellular phone service for the first time
A Government spokesman says that South Africa has waived Cuban debt totaling
A Government spokesman says that South Africa has waived Cuban debt totaling more than 100 million dollars
Economy of Cuba
A Government spokesman says that South Africa has waived Cuban debt totaling more than 100 million dollars
May
Economy of Cuba
Cuba announces a major shake-up of its troubled farm sector on May Day, shifting control of the islands farms from officials at the Agriculture Ministry to more than 150 local councils
May Day
Cuba announces a major shake-up of its troubled farm sector on May Day, shifting control of the islands farms from officials at the Agriculture Ministry to more than 150 local councils
Economy of Cuba
Computers go on sale to the general public
June
Agreement on Lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
Agreement on Lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
Economy of Cuba
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
Economy of Cuba
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
Sanctions
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
Sanctions
The EU agrees to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposes tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations
July
Reform of Government
An official says that Cuba has authorized sex-change operations and will offer them free for qualifying citizens
Economy of Cuba
President Raul Castro warns Cubans to prepare for a "realistic" brand of communism that is economically viable and does away with excessive state subsidies designed to promote equality on the island
Economy of Cuba
Communist officials decree that private farmers and cooperatives can use up to 100 acres (40 hectares) of idle Government land, as President Raul Castro works to revive the floundering agricultural sector
August
Economy of Cuba
It is reported that Cuba had notified at least 2 foreign Governments that it could not meet debt payments
Meeting with Debt payments
It is reported that Cuba had notified at least 2 foreign Governments that it could not meet debt payments
September
Cuba politely declined a US offer to send a disaster assessment team
Cuba politely declined a US offer to send a disaster assessment team to the island after Hurricane Gustav, saying it would rather Washington suspend restrictions on travel and the sale of food and other materials it needs to recover
Economy of Cuba
Cuba politely declined a US offer to send a disaster assessment team to the island after Hurricane Gustav, saying it would rather Washington suspend restrictions on travel and the sale of food and other materials it needs to recover
Hurricane
Cuba politely declined a US offer to send a disaster assessment team to the island after Hurricane Gustav, saying it would rather Washington suspend restrictions on travel and the sale of food and other materials it needs to recover
Economy of Cuba
Deadly Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba, blowing buildings to rubble and sending waves surging over homes, 900,000 Cubans evacuated from its path, which forecasters said could take it to Louisiana or Texas
Hurricane
Deadly Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba, blowing buildings to rubble and sending waves surging over homes, 900,000 Cubans evacuated from its path, which forecasters said could take it to Louisiana or Texas
Economy of Cuba
Hurricane Ike roared south of Havana, Cuba, after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate
Hurricane
Hurricane Ike roared south of Havana, Cuba, after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate
Hurricane
Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country and toppling aging Havana buildings
Hurricane
Gustav swelled to a fearsome Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (195 kph) as it shrieked toward the heartland of Cuba's cigar industry on a track to hit the US Gulf Coast, three years after Hurricane Katrina
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.