Yotuel Romero: It is sad when you realize that in Cuba there is no democracy

The Cuban singerYotuel Romero offered an interview to the Univision television channel in which he spoke about his beginnings in music, the birth ofOrishas, of his success and also let us know his opinion on the political situation that Cuba is experiencing.

The member of the groupOrishas He began the conversation by talking about how he left the island behind to settle down and start a new life in Paris, France. The artist said that he left Cuba with Ruzzo "for a cultural exchange" after winning a rap festival. However, their first months in the European city were not as they expected and they had to face the tough challenge ofgo hungry and live on the streets.

"It doesn't bite me or make me feel less to say that I spent three months sleeping in the Paris metro with Ruzzo, fighting very hard against hunger," he said.

Their luck changed a few months later when they got the opportunity to record some songs. It was 1998, they met Roldán and suggested that he be part of the group.

Yotuel said at first Roldán was a little reluctant to accept the offer, but after listening to the songRepresent He fell in love with the project and they began recording together. It was then that they signed with a record company and in 2000 Orishas started. Although two of the members stopped being part of the group, Ruzzo, Yotuel and Roldán took Orishas to the top, achieving fame and awards, such as a Latin Grammy.

After taking a look at the past and remembering when they decided to take a break in 2009 after "different concerns" and their subsequent union in 2016, Yotuel spoke about the last time he traveled to Cuba, two years ago, and made reference to the difficult situation who lives island.

"Cuba is always a bittersweet experience. Sweet because you meet your friends from the neighborhood, you meet your roots, you meet your people. And bitter because my people are suffering a lot, many humanly sad things are happening in Cuba and that makes that affects you," he commented.

Regarding the political situation in Cuba, the artist added: "It is sad when you realize that there is no democracy. You go to Cuba and you realize that Cuba is based on a dictatorship because it is totalitarian."

Yotuel He also confessed that he felt afraid when singing on the island in 2009 during the Orishas' performance in Havana for the Peace Without Borders Concert and that at all times he remained uncertain about whether state security would take any type of retaliation against him or his family. for singing their songs.

"I was afraid that they would take some form of retaliation against me for freely expressing my concerns and how I really think, I'm afraid that this could in some way affect my mother, my family. There comes a time when you have to be prepared," he added.

To end the conversation, the journalist referred to Yotuel as "privileged", because unlike other artists such asCelia Cruz OWilly Chirino, had had the opportunity to sing to the people of Cuba. In this regard, he exclaimed:

"I hope that happens, I think it is time for Cuba to open up to different thoughts because I know that there are many people on the island who think like me."