The Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez has sparked a intense debate in Cuban public opinion with his recent statements regarding the country's situation.
In a post published on March 2, 2025, on his blog Segunda Cita, Rodríguez expressed his concern over the loss of "national dignity" in Cuba, pointing out a series of events that, in his view, demonstrate the decline of the values that once defined the island's identity.
His reflections arise in a context marked by the celebration of the XXV Festival del Habano, a luxurious event that attracted more than 1,300 participants from 70 countries and culminated in an "Intermediate Night" at the Salon of Lost Steps in the Capitol of Havana, the seat of the Cuban parliament.
The lavish dinner has faced criticism on social media and from figures even close to the government due to the stark contrast with the severe economic crisis experienced by most Cubans.
Rodríguez did not directly mention the event in his blog, but his words were interpreted as a veiled criticism of the ostentation of a privileged sector amidst widespread scarcity.
"Various signals suggest that a gradual disappearance of the sense of national dignity is taking place. I feel it in the everyday civic facts. I feel it in the carnivalization of the statue of the nation and the tomb of the unknown mambí (...) How have we come to a point where these things can happen, where the sacred is trivialized, where disrespect is shown to the memory of a human being, to their family, to the people who love them?" wrote the musician.
An evident disillusionment
The message of the troubadour, once one of the most emblematic voices of the musical movement that accompanied the so-called "Cuban Revolution," reflects a growing disillusionment with the direction the country has taken in recent years.
In his words, there is not only a critique of the lack of values in society and Cuban leadership, but also a concern about the influence of external factors that could worsen the situation.
"A declining empire can revolutionize the world. This is more than evident. Of course, there are progressive revolutions and reactionary revolutions. We are beginning to see and suffer the extent of this new global uprising, who knows for how long. The effect it might have on us in Cuba is not hopeful," the singer-songwriter reflected.
Silvio Rodríguez's distancing from the official discourse is not an isolated incident. In recent years, his public statements have reflected a critical stance that contrasts with his unconditional support for the Cuban government in previous decades.
In 2021, following the protests of July 11, Rodríguez acknowledged the legitimacy of the popular discontent and even met with some of the detained protesters, a gesture that earned him both praise and criticism in equal measure.
His insistence on the need for a national dialogue and the recognition of internal errors in the country has been increasing. In 2022, in an interview with a foreign media outlet, he stated that "not everything bad that happens in Cuba can be attributed to the embargo", a statement that diverged from the official discourse of the island's government.
A country in crisis and an elite that celebrates
The scandal surrounding the Habanos Festival has reignited the debate on the growing inequality in Cuba. While a gala dinner was held at the Capitol featuring international figures and businesspeople, the population on the streets is facing shortages of food, medicine, and essential goods.
The event also included a luxury humidor auction in which 17,940,000 euros were reportedly raised for the public health system. However, many Cubans question the relevance of these celebrations when access to medical services has deteriorated and hospitals are lacking basic supplies.
Silvio Rodríguez, without directly mentioning the Habanos Festival, made his stance clear regarding the decline of morals in the country. "I understand that we are not what we wanted to be; I understand that there is still a long way to go. But I cannot understand the disrespect and lack of human quality. I hope that Cubans with dignity do not allow the indignity and destruction of this Homeland that has cost so much to build and defend," he stated.
His words resonate in a moment of particular social sensitivity in Cuba, where hopelessness and discontent seem to grow in proportion to the distance between the political leadership and the daily realities of most citizens. Rodríguez's disillusionment is, for many, a symbol of a deeper crisis: that of a Revolution that, according to some of its own proponents, has lost its essence.
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