Willy Chirino delivered a strong message against Cuban artists who perform both on the island and in exile, arguing that they "are not politicians," during an appearance on the podcast "De la Calle" by África Benítez published last Thursday on Instagram.
In the released segment, Chirino directly rejected the stance of those who intend to remain indifferent to the political reality in Cuba while engaging with both the regime and the exile communities.
"If you were born Cuban, you cannot navigate in two waters," asserted the singer, regarded as one of the most emblematic voices of the Cuban exile community.
Chirino went even further, suggesting that he would prefer an open declaration of sympathy for communism rather than a claim of neutrality: "I would rather you tell me, look, I am a communist, I like Fidel Castro, than for you to say, no, because I'm not a politician."
For the artist, being Cuban entails an unavoidable responsibility to the people who suffer on the island: "You have to, through your music, your messages, your words, and everything you do artistically, tell the world the reality of your people."
Chirino described the situation in Cuba harshly: "Inside there are 11 million Cubans suffering without electricity, without freedom, lacking everything; it is a people dying."
In response to those who invoke apoliticism as a shield, the singer answered bluntly: "What do you mean you're not political? What about your people? You have to align with your people, not the ones who govern them, who kill them every day."
And he concluded with a direct call to the Cuban artistic community: "You have to fight that with your message, with your songs, with your lyrics, with your work, with your art."
In another part of the interview, Chirino, who has embodied the voice of the Cuban exile in his songs, stated that those who make deals with the regime have "already been there" and it would be impossible for him to maintain a friendship with such people, beyond acknowledging their merits as artists.
Chirino's perspective on the political role of Cuban artists has a long history. In October 2019, he urged artists to stand up for their people rather than remain silent in the face of the government. In October 2020, he celebrated Gente de Zona's break from the regime and wrote, "I hope this step taken by GDZ serves as an example for other Cuban artists." In February 2021, he defended "Patria y Vida" as "exactly what the Cuban people need from their artists."
The debate over artists performing on both sides is a recurring issue in the Cuban-American community. In 2023, Chocolate MC faced harsh criticism from the exile community for supporting the Santa María Music Fest in Cuba, with accusations of being "in collusion with the Cuban regime." In 2020, the rapper Henry Laso questioned regime-affiliated artists residing in the United States, stating that they "do not deserve residency."
Chirino's statements come weeks after he received an honorary doctorate in music from Florida International University on April 27, a ceremony where he concluded his speech before nearly 6,000 graduates with a "Long live a free Cuba!" that earned him a standing ovation.
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