The Cuban duo Gente de Zona, one of the critical voices against the dictatorship in Havana, reaffirmed their critical stance toward the regime during a concert in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where they stated that Cuba deserves to be free and that the country may be close to achieving that goal.
During their presentation, the artists insisted that the island is going through an unsustainable situation and defended the right of Cubans to live with basic freedoms.
"I believe that any country deserves to be free and not have to emigrate to other countries in order to live like people: to have freedom of expression, to have food, and not to suffer police abuse," they stated from the stage.
Although the duo performed the songs that have earned them international recognition and got the concert attendees jumping, they did not forget to dedicate to the present Cuban emigrants the song that has become an anthem of the longing for freedom: “Patria y Vida.”
They also emphasized that their stance has brought them personal consequences, recalling that they cannot return to Cuba after the impact of that song, which has also become a symbol of opposition.
"This song speaks about everything that happens in Cuba, that's why it's called 'Homeland and Life'. Because of this song, we cannot enter our country. Down with the dictatorship! Long live a free Cuba," they stated.
At another point in the concert, they sent a message of hope to the audience by assuring them that change could be on the horizon.
"We are about to achieve the freedom of Cuba," they said, amid chants in support of the Cuban people.
The artists also expressed their gratitude for the support received from outside the island. "Long live the people of Mexico," they stated, referring to the welcome extended to Cubans in that country.
The message adds to other recent statements from the group, which has denounced the blackouts, food shortages, and the lack of rights in Cuba, amid a crisis that has driven thousands of citizens to emigrate in search of better living conditions.
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