The neighborhood of Cayo Hueso in Centro Habana ends the year in shock with the passing of one of its most beloved residents, Roberto Torrientes, El Focondo, who had just turned 43. According to some sources, he died of a cerebral ischemia, and his farewell was a grand affair, marked by an impressive display of drums.
In the video of the ceremony shared on social media by Yordano L Munanga Ekue, a heartfelt tribute to "Robe" from his fellow believers is evident. Those who knew him remember him fondly and with surprise at the suddenness of his farewell.
"Rest in peace, my dear black, we will always remember you," wrote María Isabel Basulto Barreiro on Facebook. His friend Gilberto Suárez also bid him farewell with sorrow. "Rest in peace, my brother, my friend. Cayo Hueso is in mourning. Foco (Focondo) forever."
"Roberto, El Focondo, may God keep you in glory, man and friend. Focondo is signing a Ñampe," he wrote on his wall, referring to the Abakuá ceremony organized to honor the dead, which is only attended by men.
The philosophy of Roberto Torrientes (July 8, 1981 - December 2024), expressed in "if you treat me well, I will treat you better," fostered strong friendships in Key West and many other corners of the world, where today friends and acquaintances hold him in their thoughts.
"How unfair life is, my brother. Fly high, my blood, wherever you are, we will always remember you, El Foco. Rest in peace," added his friend Frandor Valdés to the countless condolences.
Mayito Cordero Pérez also expressed his deep emotions. "With profound sorrow, I bid farewell to a great friend. When the history of Key West and the Church of Carmen in Havana is written, you will be a central figure in that story. Farewell, my brother, Roberto Torrientes. May God receive you with the joy you always brought us, while we, in contrast, say goodbye with the sadness that inevitably accompanies the departure of good people. My condolences to Yolanda, your beloved mother, your wife, and your children. May perpetual light shine upon you, and may God grant you eternal rest," he remarked.
Despite the difficult times being experienced in Cuba, there are farewells that transcend the intimacy of family pain and become newsworthy. Today, it is the case of Roberto Torrientes' drumming ceremony, but last May, there was a massive motorcycle caravan saying goodbye to one of their own in Santiago de Cuba.
Nothing like this had been seen since the farewell in 2022 of another well-known motorcyclist from Santiago, Yunior Tabares, at a funeral that will be remembered for a long time. The caravan of motorcyclists that accompanied Brian Quiñones to the cemetery in Havana in 2020 was also unforgettable. That was truly memorable.
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