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A rumor of suspension regarding the traditional Conga de Los Hoyos invasion —scheduled for December 27 as a New Year's greeting— began to circulate in Santiago de Cuba without any official announcement, public notice, or institutional explanation.
The information emerged from the profile of the journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who describes the incident as a form of “paperless censorship” to dampen public participation.
Concern arose when rumors began to spread that the Santiago conga that would tour the neighborhoods of the city had been canceled, despite there being no confirmation or document to support it.
A call published on the reporter's page invited the people of Santiago to join the challenge "Súbelo Mayeta": to film a creative video of 30 seconds to 1 minute from the conga, chanting a phrase identified as "deeply rooted" in Santiago's identity.
The video with the most creativity and positive reactions would receive a prize of 100 dollars, according to the proposal.
From that call —framed as popular culture, creativity, and free participation— "the noise changed its tone," asserts the communicator.
According to various inquiries cited by Mayeta, the Provincial Culture Directorate in Santiago de Cuba, “under the guidance of the Communist Party of Cuba,” would have opted to activate the rumor of cancellation with a purpose: to prevent videos of the challenge from being recorded during the conga and to demobilize participation, without publicly imposing a ban.
Mayeta himself asserts that, after consulting with workers in the sector, there was no official suspension up to that point: there was no “document, circular, or announcement” confirming the cancellation, only rumors “among musicians and performers” and unsigned comments in the realm of “they say.”
Mayeta emphasizes that, as of more than 3:00 p.m., the conga had not yet been reported to have started “as it does every December 27” with its usual route.
Meanwhile, many players of different congas in local neighborhoods had reported that it was canceled, but there was no confirmation from the Provincial Directorate of Culture.
In his text, the journalist concludes that the conga “is not an institutional favor,” but rather street, neighborhood, and identity, and that the use of rumor to instill fear and confusion reveals “fear of free culture” when it is not under control.
The traditional invasions of the Santiago congas, a form of "safety valve" for discontent, include a series of coritos in which the population spontaneously criticizes the regime.
This detail, combined with the enormous gathering of people, causes the regime to closely monitor this cultural manifestation that, in the blink of an eye, could turn into a massive popular protest.
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