Unveiling wax figure of Adalberto Álvarez in controversial museum in Bayamo.

The Bayamo Wax Museum, which sparked so much controversy in the past with the addition of a representation of the troubadour Sara González, has added a figure of Adalberto Álvarez this Saturday.

Although the institution has been heavily criticized on several occasions for the controversial representations it displays, this time it added a rather decent and accurate life-size piece modeled in polychrome wax of the Caballero del Son, as reported by the state-run newspaper Granma.

The piece was created by the artists Rafael Barrios Madrigal and his son Rafael Barrios Milan, and "recreates the image of Adalberto Álvarez at approximately 60 years of age."

Moreover, it was "enriched with costumes, footwear, and other objects from the artist donated by his family members, among which stands out the güiro (musical instrument) that distinguished him in each of his presentations," the news portal stated.

With the piece dedicated to the Knight of Son, the institution reaches 27 pieces dedicated to "personalities from the history, politics, and Cuban and international culture, as well as popular figures."

For the occasion, the controversial Cándido Fabré presented a new song titled "Adalberto, the Son Needs You" during the unveiling ceremony of the statue.

The founder of Son 14 passed away in 2021 at the age of 72, leaving behind an important musical legacy with pieces such as "Y qué tú quieres que te den", "A bailar el toca toca", "Para bailar casino", and "A Bayamo en coche".

The Wax Museum of Bayamo, the only one of its kind in Cuba, was at the center of a major controversy in 2017 when it unveiled a piece in tribute to the singer-songwriter Sara González, an emblematic figure of the Cuban Nueva Trova and the cultural events mainly linked to the political activities of the Island's government.

However, the gesture of the brothers Rafael and Leander Barrios Milan, along with their father and teacher Rafael Barrios Madrigal, ended up sparking an unimaginable discussion on social media, where intellectuals, artists, and users in general satirized the monument and even went as far as comparing it to "a female version of Hugo Chavez."

Finally, the widow of the troubadour, Diana Balboa, informed that the wax figure was removed from the museum after receiving criticism from close friends and family members.