Israel Rojas, leader of the duo Buena Fe, participated in the XXIII edition of the Piña Colada Festival 2026, held from April 2 to 5 in Ciego de Ávila and Morón, and justified his presence at the event with a phrase that quickly sparked controversy: culture also saves.
The statements were made following his concert at the Main Theater of Ciego de Ávila, described by the organizers as a venue "filled with locals from Ciego de Ávila," during a festival that had to adapt its format due to the energy crisis: without massive lighting in Maximo Gomez Square or large screens.
Among other topics, the artist spoke about the cultural options available for families, highlighted the presence of artists, and praised the organizers for the event, while also hinting at those who view the event unfavorably given the severe crisis Cuba is experiencing.
The context in which the event was held is particularly controversial. Just three weeks earlier, on March 13, Morón —one of the festival's venues— was the scene of massive protests triggered by a continuous blackout lasting over 26 hours.
The protesters took over the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba, burned furniture, and chanted slogans such as "Freedom!" and "Homeland and Life." A young man was shot during the police repression.
Cubalex documented at least 14 arrests related to the protests and pot-banging in the region, including that of the minor Jonathan David Muir Burgos, 16 years old, who was arrested on March 16 along with his father.
The province of Ciego de Ávila has been in a state of maximum blackout since March 30, with power cuts lasting up to 21 hours daily, precisely when the festival started.
While Rojas appealed to culture as a lifeline, his colleague in Buena Fe, Arnaldo Rodríguez —a National Assembly deputy for Morón since 2023—, called the protesters "mob" and "antisocials" during the March 13 event from the same stage of the festival, describing Morón as a city that is "cultured, educated, and patriotic."
Rojas, for his part, published a video on Facebook
It's not the first time that the singer has taken a stand in favor of the government during times of tension. During the protests on July 11, 2021, he expressed support for the "combat order" of the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel. In May 2023, he publicly denied the existence of political prisoners in Cuba with the phrase, "As far as I know, there are none."
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba includes him in its list of repressors due to his Castroist propaganda and his past connections to the Ministry of the Interior.
In March of this year, during a tour in Spain, a Cuban activist was forcefully expelled from one of his concerts in Madrid for shouting slogans about the freedom of political prisoners.
Cubalex reported 156 national protests until March 17, described as the largest wave of demonstrations since July 11, 2021, a figure that contrasts with the image of cultural normalcy that the Piña Colada Festival attempted to project. The event's director, Arnaldo Rodríguez, described its execution as "a heroic feat" given the circumstances.
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