A Japanese violinist listened to the feedback from his Cuban followers and responded with a gesture that moved the diaspora.
On May 20, KOH (@muscle_violin) performed "Guantanamera" on the violin as the 50th installment of his project "One Iconic Song from Every Country," publicly acknowledging that his followers had taught him what the most iconic song of Cuba is.
It all started on May 12, when KOH published the 45th installment of his series playing "Chan Chan" as the iconic song of Cuba.
The reaction was emotional, but several Cuban followers pointed out in the comments that while "Chan Chan" is a very beautiful song, the most iconic one from Cuba is undoubtedly "Guantanamera".
KOH took note and, eight days later, published his response. In the video, he clearly and gratefully states: “Chan Chan is a very beautiful song. But the most iconic song from Cuba is Guantanamera. Thank you very much for teaching me.”
The chosen date added a tremendous symbolic weight. May 20 marks the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Cuba in 1902. For the diaspora, hearing "Guantanamera," performed by a Japanese musician precisely on that day, was doubly emotional.
The comments overflowed with pride and nostalgia. "Grateful for playing our Cuban music," wrote a follower. Another expressed: "LONG LIVE Free Cuba! Homeland and Life!" A third confessed: "My beloved Cuba, I get goosebumps hearing my music."
A Cuban American highlighted the historical coincidence of the day: "On May 20, 1902, the young Republic of Cuba was born. Today, the dictator of the communist regime was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice. As a Cuban American, I appreciate you using your platform to play our music. Like freedom, it is a universal language."
«Guantanamera» is considered the most universal song of Cuba. Its author is Joseíto Fernández, and it was popularized on Cuban radio since 1929. Its lyrics take stanzas from José Martí's Versos sencillos. The internationalization of the piece was solidified in the sixties thanks to American musician Pete Seeger.
«Chan Chan», for its part, was composed by Compay Segundo and became globally famous through the album Buena Vista Social Club (1997). In December 2025, UNESCO declared Cuban son an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reinforcing the global relevance of this music.
KOH, who combines his passion for the violin with bodybuilding under the motto “The violin and muscle have no borders”, had over 421,000 followers on Instagram at the time of publishing the video of “Chan Chan.”
The one for "Guantanamera" accumulated 25,504 views, 7,664 likes, and 445 comments, and left a message that resonated beyond music: when someone listens with humility, the connection between cultures knows no borders.
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