"I Haven't Been Able to Return to Cuba": Cuban Saxophonist Performs for Day of the Dead in Mexico

The sound of the saxophone played by Cuban musician Rogelio Fusté accompanied hundreds of Mexican families who gathered at the Panteón Dolores in Monterrey to pay tribute to their loved ones during the Day of the Dead celebration.

Fusté, who has been living in Mexico for 26 years, has been voluntarily participating every November 2nd for the past five years, performing jazz melodies and romantic songs among flowers, candles, and photographs that adorn the graves.

Her music, she said, is a way to accompany grief while also paying tribute to her own father, who passed away four years ago.

“During this beautiful moment, I come to share my music and support the feelings of families who come to remember their loved ones. My father passed away four years ago from a heart attack, and I have not been able to go to Cuba. Therefore, from here, I also pay tribute to him because he was my first teacher, and thanks to him, I make a living from music,” stated the saxophonist in an interview with ABC Noticias México.

Graduated in clarinet and skilled in saxophone and flute, Rogelio Fusté acknowledged that upon arriving in Mexico, he was surprised by the way Mexicans celebrate death with joy and color, something that contrasts with Cuban traditions.

"It seemed to me something so cheerful, so colorful. It's a tribute full of life, different from what I knew," she said.

The musician is now a familiar figure at the Panteón Dolores. The workers there and many families recognize him each year for his gesture of solidarity and respect. "It is important to feel pride in our roots, in our culture. I am Cuban, but after so many years here, I feel like a true Mexican," he expressed.

A bridge between cultures

The Day of the Dead, one of the most significant celebrations in Mexico, blends indigenous and Catholic elements to honor the memory of those who have departed. Every November 1st and 2nd, families set up altars, decorate with marigold flowers, and visit cemeteries to share food, music, and memories with their loved ones who have passed away.

Since that fusion of life and death, Rogelio Fusté has found a way to unite his Cuban roots with Mexican tradition, turning his saxophone into a symbol of memory and affection. Amid the bustle of Monterrey, his music resonates like an echo that remembers those who cannot return but remain present in the soul.