Videos of young people dancing and images created with artificial intelligence have begun to circulate on Cuban social media, associated with the trending phenomenon of "farming aura", the viral trend of Generation Z that is already making its way through the streets of Latin America.
However, so far there has been no confirmation that the so-called "aura battles" have actually reached Cuba as an organized competition, and some of the posts circulating seem to be infused with the humor and sarcasm of the users themselves.
A video shared on Facebook by Cuban influencer Abejas Meme shows young people on the island allegedly performing the characteristic moves and poses of the battles.
The clip, which has accumulated over 93,000 views, shows several boys 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 a literal adoption of the trend.
Abejas Meme himself set the tone from the beginning: "In Cuba, the rules have changed; the winner is the one who has a bottle of oil. Gentlemen, leave the aura behind and get to farming a pound of rice, a bottle of oil, because that's what gives you status."
"Nobody understood the sarcasm of the video," wrote a person in the comments, while other users replied that, indeed, some of the audience seemed to have missed the humorous intention of the post.
Another comment attempted to explain the situation through the lens of Cuban humor: "Dude, doesn't anyone understand the Cuban vibe?" wrote a user, who claimed that young people would be "burning fula" —mocking— those who engage in such battles.
The scene also triggered an avalanche of jokes. "I survived COVID for this?" one person quipped. Another renamed the phenomenon "the cringe battles."
Cuban humor also ended up linking the trend with everyday problems on the Island. One of the comments read: "Whoever gets a bottle of oil wins," referring to a product whose availability and price often generate discussions on Cuban social media.
Another internet user summarized the scene as "an atmosphere connected with aura," while one person simply commented: "What an impressive show."
What is "farming aura"?
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.
In the digital language of Generation Z, "Aura" represents the charisma, presence, and magnetism that a person exudes.
The dictionary Merriam-Webster defines it accurately 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 standing face to face and competing with poses, gestures, walks, and references to viral memes, while the audience serves as an informal jury.
There are no beats, no rhymes, no typical dance: the one who projects the most charisma and confidence wins.
A clever response, a challenging pose, staying calm in an uncomfortable situation, or executing an unexpected move can all mean "gaining aura." A fall, 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, the in-person battles for "farming aura" spread across squares and parks in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, and Spain.
In some events, there are judges, elimination 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, about 177 dollars.
The trend has not been without controversy. A mayor in Honduras banned battles in his municipality, schools in Costa Rica warned of disciplinary measures, and in Veracruz, a competition was banned 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 earlier this year, which generated parodies and reactions from public figures.
For now, the videos circulated 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" are already being held in Cuba, similar to those reported in other Latin American countries.
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