The musician Israel Rojas, leader of the Cuban duo Buena Fe, stated in a video posted on his Facebook profile that there are elderly people in Cuba searching through the garbage, a scene he described as part of the country’s “high contrasts” and compared to similar situations in other Latin American countries.
In the video, shared in reel format, the artist recounts recent episodes from his trip to Spain and his return to Havana, where he shows scenes from his daily life. At one point during the journey, he mentions an image he observes near a school.
"This is the Cuba of stark contrasts that I live in, the same one where these grandparents practice tai chi in a park, and the same one that painfully has some elderly rummaging through the trash next to a school, just like in any Latin American country. This is a school, a school that opens every day for the kids, a school that I hope won't be bombed," Rojas says in the video.
The statements sparked critical reactions among users on social media. In comments on a clip of the video shared by CiberCuba Noticias on the platform, several users questioned the comparison with other countries or criticized the singer for his stance on the economic situation in the island.
Some pointed out that they have not seen scenes like this in the countries where they reside. "I have never seen elderly people here (abroad) eating from the trash," wrote one person.
Others mentioned the contrast between the situation faced by part of the population in Cuba and the trips abroad made by artists close to the government. “There are people who haven't eaten or bathed for days while others are strolling in Europe,” commented another user.
Criticism has intensified around the recent controversy concerning the duo's performances in Spain. During a concert held on March 6 at the Auditorio Marcelino Camacho in Madrid, a Cuban was forcibly removed after shouting slogans against the regime and demanding the release of political prisoners on the island, as shown in videos shared on social media capturing the moment when several attendees dragged him out of the venue amid shoves.
The images show how several attendees surround the protester inside the auditorium as he shouts “Down with the dictatorship” and “Freedom for political prisoners.”
Buena Fe, consisting of Israel Rojas and Yoel Martínez, has been the subject of controversy at various times due to its closeness to the Cuban government and the tensions that their concerts often generate among certain exile groups.
Filed under: