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The Cuban reggaeton artist El Micha performed at the Meliá Santiago de Cuba hotel as part of a pool party organized by Caribbean Passion, but the event cast more shadows than lights.
Despite the concert being promoted as an exclusive event and the supposed high anticipation generated on social media, images from the event revealed a sparse attendance.
El Micha, who has faced multiple criticisms regarding his stance on exile and his return to the island, performed on February 15 as part of a series of events that also featured artists like Diván, Vakero, and Adalberto Álvarez y su Son.
However, far from a large turnout, the concert highlighted the difficulty of attracting an audience in the eastern city, amidst a context marked by a severe energy crisis, widespread shortages, and the partial dollarization of the economy initiated by the Cuban regime.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada was one of the first to comment on the event on social media, where he sarcastically remarked on the reggaeton artist's situation: "This is what El Micha has come to, singing from stage to stage, without pocketing the greens of capitalism."
In his post, he added that most of the attendees at the event were not Cubans earning in local currency, but rather individuals with access to remittances sent from abroad.
The controversy surrounding El Micha and his relationship with the Cuban exile community
The controversy surrounding El Micha is not new and dates back to his statements in September 2024, when he claimed in an interview with Tony Dandrades that it was the Cubans who made him popular, not the people from Miami.
In that interview, El Micha expressed his decision to continue living in Miami while constantly traveling to Cuba to perform concerts. "I realized who I am, where I come from", he stated, defending his right to work on the island without getting involved in political issues.
His stance generated strong criticism among the exiled Cubans, who accused him of turning his back on those who have supported him from abroad. "Tell me what I need to do to sing in Cuba", asked exiled Cuban rapper El B on his social media.
Others considered that his words diminished the efforts of those who have fought against the Cuban regime and that his continuous trips to the island were a sign of his indifference towards the repression and crisis in the country.
Furthermore, El Micha has emphasized that his relationship with Cuba is emotional and artistic, not political, something he apparently didn't feel when he composed the protest song "Un sueño". He has stated on several occasions that "Cuba heals his soul" and that he needs to be on the island to feel complete.
However, this stance has continued to polarize the Cuban community in Miami, where many consider him an artist who has betrayed the values of exile, and they wonder how one can "heal the soul" of a society that is oppressed and devoid of rights and freedoms.
Support from Cuba: Cubadebate and Gerardo Hernández
In this context, El Micha has received support within Cuba, particularly from pro-government media.
In September 2024, the portal Cubadebate published an article defending the reggaeton artist following a controversial interview in which the artist left a program in Miami when questioned about his trips to Cuba.
According to Cubadebate, El Micha "exploded in response to the traditional harassment" that Cuban artists in exile face, accusing Miami media of requiring political statements as a "toll" to work in Florida.
In the same vein, the former Cuban spy and national coordinator of the CDR, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, came to the defense of the reggaeton artist, stating on social media that "in Miami there are inquisitors who claim to have left 'seeking freedom', and now they not only fear stepping out of line, but they also want to incinerate anyone who does."
For Hernández Nordelo, the controversy surrounding El Micha is a reflection of the alleged ideological control that the exile community exerts over Cuban artists.
A concert that highlights a decline
Beyond the controversy, the outcome of their concert in Santiago de Cuba left unflattering images, where the poor production of the event, the low audience attendance, and the mediocrity of the stage and the performance were clearly evident.
Although El Micha's music remains popular in certain circles, the lack of an audience at the event highlighted that his ambiguous position regarding the dictatorship has taken a toll both on and off the island.
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