Videos of young people dancing and photos created with artificial intelligence associated with the trend of “farming aura”, the viral phenomenon of Generation Z that is sweeping through the streets of Latin America, have already started circulating on Cuban social media.
However, so far it has not been possible to confirm whether the so-called "aura battles" have actually arrived in Cuba as an organized competition, and some of the posts circulating seem to be characterized by the humor and sarcasm of the users themselves.
A shared video on Facebook by the Cuban influencer Abejas Meme shows young people from the island allegedly performing the characteristic movements and poses of battles.
The clip, which has amassed over 93,000 views, shows several young men facing off in what could be one of these competitions, and the video's creator mentions that there is already a "planned" battle in Pinar del Río.
However, it is more about parody scenes than the literal adoption of the trend.
Abejas Meme himself set the tone from the beginning: "In Cuba, the rules have changed; the one who wins is the one who has a bottle of oil. Gentlemen, forget the aura and get to farming a pound of rice, a bottle of oil, because that's what counts."
"No one understood the sarcasm in the video," wrote one person in the comments, while other users responded that, indeed, some of the audience seemed not to grasp the humorous intent of the post.
Another comment tried to explain the situation using Cuban humorous slang: "Asere, doesn’t anyone get the vibe of the Cuban?" wrote a user, who claimed that young people would be "burning fula" —mocking— those who engage in that kind of battles.
The scene also prompted an avalanche of jokes. “I survived COVID for this?” one person quipped. Another dubbed the phenomenon “the cringe battles.”
Cuban humor also ended up linking the trend to everyday issues on the island. One of the comments said, "Whoever gets a bottle of oil wins," referring to a product whose availability and price often generate commentary on Cuban social media.
Another internet user summarized the scene as "an atmosphere connected with an aura," while someone simply commented: "What a show!"
What does "farming aura" mean?
The term combines two concepts from different worlds. "Farmear" comes from the English farming, used in video games like League of Legends or Minecraft to describe the action of repeating tasks and accumulating resources or experience.
"Aura," in the digital language of Generation Z, represents the charisma, presence, and magnetism that a person projects.
The dictionary Merriam-Webster defines it precisely as "the act of doing something to look cool, impressive, stylish, special, and important, but without trying too hard."
In practice, the battles consist of two participants facing each other and competing with poses, gestures, walks, and references to viral memes, while the audience acts as an informal jury.
There are no punches, no rhymes, no traditional dancing: the winner is the one who exudes the most charisma and confidence.
A witty response, a defiant pose, staying calm in an awkward situation, or executing an unexpected move can mean "gaining aura." A stumble, a mistake, or a failed attempt to appear interesting can lead to just the opposite: an imaginary loss of points.
A global phenomenon that Cuba redefines
In 2026, in-person battles for "farming aura" have spread to squares and parks in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, and Spain.
In some events, there are judges, elimination by rounds, and promises of cash prizes: the winner of a competition in front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City would take home 3,000 Mexican pesos, which is about 177 dollars.
The trend has not been free from controversy. A mayor in Honduras banned battles in his municipality, schools in Costa Rica warned about disciplinary measures, and in Veracruz, a competition was prohibited in a municipal park due to lack of authorization.
In Cuba, however, the phenomenon follows the same pattern of creole appropriation that was already seen with the "therians," the viral trend that arrived on the island at the beginning of this year and generated parodies and reactions from public figures.
For now, the videos shared on Cuban social media have been enough to bring the vocabulary of the trend into the digital debate, and, above all, to generate memes and comments filled with irony.
What the available information does not allow us to assert is that organized competitions for "farming aura" similar to those reported in other Latin American countries are currently taking place in Cuba.
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