In the midst of an energy crisis that keeps much of the country in darkness, Havana hosts the ninth edition of the Salsa Festival in Cuba, an event that, paradoxically, is celebrated with lights and sound amplification on prime stages such as Club 500 and Hotel Memories Miramar in the capital.
The festival, which started on Wednesday, February 19 with the performance of Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, brings together iconic groups from Cuban music, including Los Van Van, Elito Revé y su Charangón, Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Haila María Mompié, and Paulito FG.
According to the organizers, the events include presentations in communities of the capital and the participation of artists from the United States and Peru, with the aim of internationalizing the event.
However, the celebration of the festival in this context has been heavily criticized, as while the event receives official support and access to resources, millions of Cubans are facing prolonged blackouts of up to 20 hours a day, according to complaints on social media and reports from independent media.
The shortage of fuel and the deterioration of electrical infrastructure have led the government to reduce electricity service in entire provinces, impacting homes, hospitals, schools, and workplaces.
The inconsistency of celebrating this event during a time of acute energy crisis was already questioned in February 2024 by the former member of Los Van Van, Yeny Valdés, who criticized the relevance of the previous event on her social media.
"There can be no celebration when a community is suffering. Have the dignity to support those who cannot dance with you," said the artist to the colleagues who participated in the previous edition of the event.
In the promotional posts for the festival, musicians such as Maykel Blanco, Elito Revé, and Los Van Van have celebrated the event with messages of enthusiasm. "The Salsa Festival in Cuba 2025 has kicked off... let's enjoy this great musical event," wrote Los Van Van on Facebook.
"Meeting space among beloved and admired music colleagues. The best of Cuban music. UEAAAA!", added Elito Revé and his Charangón on their social media. "Thank you all for being here, see you later at CLUB 500," shared musician Maykel Blanco, president of the festival, on his accounts.
Meanwhile, the reality outside the stages is completely different. On social media, Cubans are reporting blackouts of over 12 hours in provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Cienfuegos, and Camagüey, with intermittent electric service and no solutions in sight.
In many areas, the lack of electricity affects the pumping of drinking water, leaving thousands of families in extreme conditions.
Additionally, the ticket prices have sparked outrage, as individual tickets cost 500 CUP, while a package that includes all the concerts amounts to 1,500 CUP, an unattainable figure for most Cubans, whose average salary barely exceeds 4,000 CUP per month. Furthermore, currently, many Cubans rely on charcoal or firewood for cooking due to the lack of electricity.
In an attempt to justify the holding of luxury events amidst the crisis, Lis Cuesta Peraza, wife of the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, stated on Cuban television that these cultural events are a "vital source of income" for the country's economy.
In her participation in the recent program Cuadrando la Caja, the event promoter and official from the Ministry of Culture defended that cultural tourism should remain a priority and that "these events cannot be suspended," as they are part of the national identity.
Cuesta also asserted that there is an "opinion matrix" on social media that seeks to discredit these events by comparing them to popular festivities such as the Parrandas de Remedios, the Jornada Cucalambeana, or the Festival del Caribe.
However, the difference is clear: while those events have a strong community involvement and free access for the public, festivals like the Salsa festival or gastronomic events in Havana are aimed at a privileged elite, far beyond the reach of most Cubans.
The contrast between the energy crisis and the celebration of the festival highlights a clear disconnection between the regime's priorities and the reality faced by citizens. While authorities allocate resources for musical performances in the capital, the rest of the country remains in the dark, with no concrete response to the crisis affecting millions of people.
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