Related videos:
The troubadour Silvio Rodríguez recently stated that Cuba has, in a sense, always been in crisis.
In a recent visit to Chile interviewed on February 7 for the Diario UdeChile, the troubadour stated that “in a certain sense we have always been in crisis. It is critical –very critical— to envision a world where compassion and altruism prevail. That is the root of everything that happens to us.”
The troubadour emphasized that his solution to the ills of Cuba involves removing the "R" from the so-called Revolution.
Regarding his call to revolutionize the revolution, Rodríguez replied, "I have also said that we should take away the R. Just think about how it would sound."
Speaking in a general and philosophical tone, Rodríguez avoided analyzing the problems of current Cuba and assured that “the uglier the landscape looks, the more I feel driven to create beauty.”
It was also defined as "a person with enormous luck. For having been born where and when I was; for having chosen a profession that is like continuing to play, embracing my inner child forever."
Mild critiques
In March 2025, the singer-songwriter published a text titled “Another ojalá”, in which he expressed his concern about the “loss of national dignity” following the images of luxury and extravagance at the Festival del Habano.
“Various signs suggest that a kind of gradual disappearance of the sense of national dignity is underway,” Rodríguez wrote, referring to the country’s “regression” and the lack of respect for national symbols.
The text, which was widely shared on social media, was interpreted as an indirect criticism of Díaz-Canel himself and prompted the immediate response from Leticia Martínez Hernández, head of communication for the ruling government, who defended the regime's management.
The controversy highlighted the tensions between the official discourse and more reflective artistic expressions, even within the cultural sector that has historically supported the government.
Filed under: