The leader of the duo Buena Fe and a fervent defender of the Cuban regime, Israel Rojas, once again accused the "American empire" of the systemic crisis facing the country and the largest exodus in its history, which has driven nearly two million people to flee the island in search of an escape from hunger, repression, poverty, and lack of opportunities.
In an interview with La Iguana TV by communicator and National Assembly deputy of Venezuela, Alberto Alvarado, the singer and official from the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) once again held the United States government responsible for the economic and social failures of the regimes in Havana and Caracas.
The interview, aired at the end of November and with only 1,798 views to date on YouTube, allowed both leaders of their respective authoritarian and violent regimes to celebrate the dictators Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, lamenting their "common pains," which they claimed were inflicted by U.S. "imperial" policies.
"We share common pains. The issue of emigration for Cuba and Venezuela has been very painful; it has been a strategy to uproot us, to break families apart, to push us to our limits, to use scarcity and poverty as tools of war. That's brutal. I don't understand how the modern world, in the 21st century, can allow something like that," Rojas said in the interview.
According to the pamphleteer troubadour of Palacio, the United States continues to "use economic measures to kill a people, deindustrialize them, and suffocate them so that the people will rise up."
"Not against their rulers anymore, but to rise up in favor of those who are truly working to develop it. So that the same confused people, lacking identity, end up embracing those who are causing them the most harm, instead of their wise men and women who could lead to progress. That is horrific!" said the musician incoherently and with great gestures.
Beyond the lapse or nonsense of "rebelling in favor of those who are working hardest to develop it," Rojas's concern for "the confusion" of the people led to his explanations about the logic that supposedly underpins American imperialism.
"It is such an imperialist and egocentric discourse that all that beautiful talk about progressivism and democracy is for them. Not for you; what you have to do is harvest sweet potatoes, what you have to do is grow tomatoes, what you have to do is give me your resources," explained the author of Catalejo, a privileged individual within the Cuban regime who does not bow to the overseers of the 'empire,' nor does he harvest sweet potatoes for 'the landowners.'
Once the harmony between Rojas and Alvarado was confirmed, the lyricist of the Cuban regime wanted to leave the topic without adding one more verse to his Manichean and biased worldview. He called for universal concord with an image reminiscent of a communist pioneer and an avant-garde figure in indoctrinated education, singing in the morning assembly.
Remembering his happy times when he would kiss the red scarf and sing "La Rueda" by Digna Guerra (that syrupy song that said, “all the children of the world, let’s make a wheel”), Rojas concluded by stating, “I want everyone to hold hands,” and continued to denounce U.S. imperialism with the same innocence as a child in a red shorts, excited at his platform, shouting simplistic slogans to the few supporters who follow La Iguana.
Israel Rojas: Leader of Buena Fe, provocateur, "lover of love," and a controversial figure
Israel Rojas is the leader and vocalist of the duo Buena Fe, which was founded in 1999 alongside Yoel Martínez in the province of Guantánamo. Aside from his musical career, he has not been without controversy.
In May 2023, he denied the existence of political prisoners in Cuba, stating, “As far as I know, there are none.” These remarks sparked strong criticism, particularly from family members of those arrested during the protests on July 11, 2021, who accused him of apparent insensitivity and complicity with the Cuban regime.
In September 2023, several Buena Fe concerts in Spain were canceled amid a backdrop of political tension. While no official explanations were provided, it was speculated that the cancellations were related to Rojas's support for the Cuban government and the protests from exile groups against his presence.
In April 2024, the musician found himself at the center of controversy once again after photos surfaced of him with television host and spokesperson for the Cuban regime, Humberto López, enjoying a party for the ousted Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil Fernández.
"We must aim for intelligence, aim for love; this is earned through love," Rojas said in a 2020 interview with the official media outlet Escambray.
As a street vendor of "love for the revolution and its leaders," Rojas does not hesitate to label Cuban activists for change as "digital abnormality," belittle independent civil society, and charge 3,000 pesos per person for a Christmas dinner concert in a country where the regime set the minimum wage at 2,100 Cuban pesos.
Frequently Asked Questions about Israel Rojas' Statements and the Situation in Cuba
What does Israel Rojas argue about the crisis in Cuba?
Israel Rojas blames the U.S. "empire" for the economic and social crisis in Cuba, accusing the United States of using economic measures to deindustrialize the country and suffocate the Cuban people, resulting in the largest exodus in the island's history.
How has the international community responded to the accusations made by Israel Rojas?
The international community, especially critics of the Cuban regime, has pointed out that the Cuban government uses U.S. sanctions and policies as excuses for its own economic and political failures. In the U.S. Congress, some politicians advocate for tightening sanctions, while others suggest that the embargo has not succeeded in improving the conditions of the Cuban people.
What has been the response of Cuban cultural figures to the current situation in Cuba?
Artists like Silvio Rodríguez have begun to openly criticize the Cuban government's economic policies, demanding urgent changes. Meanwhile, musicians such as Al2 El Aldeano and El B have used their art to denounce the shortages and repression in Cuba, calling for freedom and the end of the dictatorship.
What has the Cuban regime said about the massive exodus of Cubans?
The Cuban regime has attempted to downplay the massive exodus, calling it a "new demographic and social scenario" without any political connotation. However, it is estimated that 1.3 million Cubans maintain residency in Cuba but live abroad, reflecting the scale of the migration crisis.
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