Remembering and honoring Celia Cruz 15 years after her passing, except in Cuba.

Celia Cruz should not be an unperson in Cuba

Cuban music icon Celia Cruz still banned in Cuba

Celia Cruz passed away on July 16, 2003 after a battle with cancer. She was 77 years old. The world over mourned her death, except in Cuba where the official media printed a small note on her passing recognizing Cruz as an “important Cuban performer who popularized our country’s music in the United States,” it went on to say that “during the last four decades, she was systematically active in campaigns against the Cuban revolution generated in the United States.”

15 years later her music is still banned in Cuba, and in death she remains an unperson in official circles.

Her real crime? Choosing to live in freedom and continue her career as a musician. Because she had decided to continue to play her music, as a free woman, outside of Cuba the Castro brothers barred Celia from returning to Cuba in 1962 to bury her mother who had just died. This fueled her distaste for the Cuban dictatorship. When she went to the Guantanamo Naval Base three decades later she picked up some Cuban soil, a piece of home, to take back with her into exile.  

This 1990 trip to the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base would not be forgotten in official circles.

Celia Cruz picks up some Cuban soil to take a piece of home back to exile

On August 8, 2012 BBC News reported that Cuba's ban on anti-Castro musicians had been quietly lifted and on August 10 the BBC correspondent in Cuba, Sarah Rainsford, tweeted that she had been given names of forbidden artists by the central committee and the internet was a buzz that the ban on anti-Castro musicians had been quietly lifted. Others soon followed reporting on the news. The stories specifically mentioned Celia Cruz as one of the artists whose music would return to Cuban radio.

There is only one problem. It is not true. Diario de Cuba reported on August 21, 2012 that Tony Pinelli, a well known musician and radio producer, distributed an e-mail in which Rolando Álvarez, the national director of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) confirmed that the music of the late Celia Cruz would continue to be banned. The e-mail clearly stated: "All those who had allied with the enemy, who acted against our families, like Celia Cruz, who went to sing at the Guantanamo Base, the ICRT arrogated to itself the right, quite properly, not to disseminate them on Cuban radio "

According to the 2004 book Shoot the singer!: music censorship today edited by Marie Korpe there is increasing concern that post-revolution generations in Cuba are growing up without knowing or hearing censored musicians such as Celia Cruz and Olga Guillot and that this could lead to a loss of Cuban identity in future generations. This process has been described as a  Cuban cultural genocide that is depriving generations of Cubans of their heritage.

Music Freedom Day in Cuba

"During 2013, the human rights organization Freemuse registered 19 musicians killed, 7 abducted, and 18 music creators imprisoned. There are many reasons for organizing the annual ‘Music Freedom Day’ 3rd of March, which puts focus on musicians’ rights to freedom of expression."At least one of the 18 is a Cuban. His name is Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga.

Rodolfo Ramirez, rapping name El Primario

Freemuse has documented the plight of punk rocker Gorki Águila imprisoned for two years and threatened with new trials for his anti-government lyrics and Cuban rappers Rodolfo Ramirez, known by his rapping name as El Primario brutally beaten by regime agents and Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, known best as “El Critico” imprisoned and brutalized since March 2013.

Rapper imprisoned since March 2013

This is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to imprisoned and brutalized musicians in Cuba under the Castro's music has been systematically censored in what amounts to a Cuban cultural genocide that is depriving generations of Cubans of their heritage.

Below is a mash-up of musical styles with Gorki Águila and El Primario collaborating on the song ESTE AÑO SI SE CAE (This year it will fall).

Take two minutes during the Amnesty Concert and save a Cuban musician

Gorki faces 10 years in prison for his political lyrics

Tonight the world over human rights defenders and music lovers are following the #AmnestyConcert in New York City where Madonna and members of Pussy Riot will be participating. Down south past Key West in Havana, Cuba a punk rocker, Gorki Luis Águila Carrasco, who defended the members of Pussy Riot when they were locked up in a Russian prison faces a trial next Tuesday at 8:30am and faces a 10 year prison sentence. There is a petition circulating calling for his immediate freedom. Please demonstrate your solidarity and sign it.

While enjoying the concert take 2 minutes and help save a musician

The Cuban punk rocker who is facing a summary trial for his powerful political lyrics that is being disguised by the Cuban government as a trial for a common crime involving drugs. Looking at the details, the government's case falls apart. Gorki is an epileptic and a doctor has prescribed medication. All of this is backed up by the prescription itself and the notarized letter by the physician. Unfortunately, in Cuba a fair trial is an impossibility but international attention and pressure can still save the day. Below is a video from Gorki explaining the need for solidarity and the danger that he faces. The video is in Spanish but beneath it is an English translation of what he is saying.

Hello, my name is Gorki Águila, the leader of the band Porno para Ricardo, I’m here doing this video because I want to call for the solidarity of all people who want to help me this time.

The regime is trying to link me to a common crime. I have been an opponent of the regime for a long time. They don’t miss the opportunity to try link us and discredit us in common crimes in order to silence us in some way. They are going to hold a trial on the 11th of February at 8:30am in Marianao in the hall of a trial. It is a summary trial. It is a trial that I believe is profoundly unjust because the defense does not have access to the case files of the prosecution. These types of trials are customarily done in totalitarian countries. They are extremely fast trials done in a series and are fabricated and decided beforehand.

That’s why I appeal to all who want to show their solidarity because this can be very dangerous for me since they always want to find ways to jail me.

Another thing I wanted to say to you is that - - well, I’m an optimistic man and solely through the solidarity of all of you that we can achieve things like this that the regime not commit this injustice.

Thank you very much. Hopefully we’ll achieve it.

Below is one of the videos that has drawn the Cuban government's ire. Produced one year ago it recalls the largest anti-government protests during the Castro era with the August 5, 1994 Maleconazo were thousands of Cubans took to the streets shouting freedom and were met with massive repression and the only option was to leave the country.

Celia Cruz still banned in Cuba but International media remains silent

Celia Cruz's music remains banned in Cuba by the dictatorship

On August 8, 2012 BBC News reported that Cuba's ban on anti-Castro musicians had been quietly lifted and on August 10 the BBC correspondent in Cuba, Sarah Rainsford, tweeted that she had been given names of forbidden artists by the central committee and the internet was a buzz that the ban on anti-Castro musicians had been quietly lifted. Others soon followed reporting on the news. The stories specifically mentioned Celia Cruz as one of the artists whose music would return to Cuban radio.

There is only one problem. It is not true. Diario de Cuba reported on August 21, 2012 that Tony Pinelli, a well known musician and radio producer, distributed an e-mail in which Rolando Álvarez, the national director of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) confirmed that the music of the late Celia Cruz would continue to be banned. The e-mail clearly stated: "All those who had allied with the enemy, who acted against our families, like Celia Cruz, who went to sing at the Guantanamo Base, the ICRT arrogated to itself the right, quite properly, not to disseminate them on Cuban radio "

Olga Guillot's music is still banned on Cuba radio

 Cuba's cultural genocide continues in 2012 and icons of Cuban music such as Celia Cruz and Olga Guillot remain banned from the airwaves and must be discovered on the black market and in the underground. 

The Castro regime has demonstrated a great ability to distract attention from the real news in the country with non-stories such as this one.  It is one of the tools that they have used to remain in power. Unfortunately, when an activist on the island succeeds at exposing the true nature of the regime and exposes the smoke screen of distraction and demands concrete progress they are terrorized, imprisoned, become suddenly ill and die, or die in a car "accident."

Sadly international journalists on the ground in Cuba do not report on these patterns because if they do they are expelled from the country by the dictatorship as many have been over the years for even mild critical reporting of the regime.

Nevertheless, one needs to ask reporters that published articles that the music of Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan would be heard over the airwaves in Cuba now that the regime has confirmed that is not the case will they print a retraction or a clarification? Or will the dictatorship get away with using the press once again?

Celebrating José Martí and Cuban Independence at the San Carlos Institute

Men of action, above all those whose actions are guided by love, live forever. Other famous men, those of much talk and few deeds, soon evaporate. Action is the dignity of greatness. - José Martí 

If what we do for Cuba, we do not do for love, better not do it. - Bishop Agustin Roman

The San Carlos Institute Celebrates the Life of Jose Marti and Cuba’s Independence 

May 17^th – 20^th, 2012

The San Carlos Institute of Key West invited the community to a four-day program in tribute of Jose Marti, Cuba’s founding father, journalist, and poet, and to celebrate the 110^th anniversary of Cuba’s independence from Spain. There is a still an opportunity to attend the final day of this outstanding program celebrating a Mass for Monsignor Agustin Roman.

The San Carlos Institute, founded in 1871, served as cradle of Cuba’s independence movement.  Jose Marti launched the final drive for Cuba’s independence from the San Carlos and affectionately referred to it as “La Casa Cuba.” (The Cuba House)

Highlights of the program thus far have included the following:

Musical performances by “La Coral Cubana,” a 40-voice choir, tracing the history of Cuba through its music, renowned soprano Virginia Alonso and violinist Andres Trujillo, and the 13-member band Tradicion Caribe.

The San Carlos also hosted the world premiere of Jose Marti: A Musical Tribute, with pieces selected by Emilio Cueto, and performed by Jose Ramos Santos, a distinguished Puerto Rican pianist and professor at The Catholic University of America. Ramos Santos was accompanied by two vocalists: mezzo soprano, Anamer Castrello and tenor, Eric Gramatges. The tribute was divided into two main themes: Music inspired by Marti's life and work and music with the texts by Marti.

There were also special viewings of the WPBT award-winning 2002 documentary “Jose Marti: Legacy of Freedom" by film director Joe Cardona on Saturday, May 19.

Distinguished guests included former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, and U.S. Congressman David Rivera, among many others.

The full program is available online but the remaining program for today, May 20, Cuban Independence Day is reproduced below.

Sunday, May 20

1:30 PM: Mass at San Carlos  in memory of San Carlos’ Board Member,  Bishop Agustin Roman, who passed away on April 11^th of this year.

3:00 PM: Jose Marti: A Musical Tribute  The concert includes pieces inspired by Marti, as well as pieces about some of his most famous poems. Emilio Cueto, a Washington, D.C.-based independent scholar, has conducted the research and selected the compositions, spanning over one hundred years and several countries. Jose Ramos, a distinguished Puerto Rican pianist and professor at The Catholic University of America, and two singers from the University Doctoral Program will perform the musical selections. (Admission: $25 per adult and $10 for students and children). (Admission: $25 adults/$10 students and children)

5:00 PM: Musical celebration of Cuban Independence Day by the 13-member band, Tradicion Caribe. Duval Street will rock to the best of Cuba's music.

When: Sunday, May 20, 2012

Where: The San Carlos Institute, 516 Duval Street, Key West, Florida

Tickets:  www.keystix.com

Transportation: 305-810-8454

The San Carlos Institute is a Cuban heritage center and museum founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles who came to Key West to plan the campaign for Cuba's independence from Spain. The San Carlos Institute is a not for profit organization maintained by private donations and the work of volunteers.

The power of music and art to resist totalitarian deadness

Photo taken by Pedro Luis Castro

Over half a century into a brutal totalitarian regime that banned and censored The Beatles and rock n roll in the 1960s along with some of the best traditional Cuban music ever produced because it did not accord with their "revolution" the cultural landscape has been laid waste. However symbols of resistance have arisen on the cultural front and despite repression and censorship continue to have an impact in the island.

Successful cultural resistance to repression, especially in totalitarian regimes, revolve around wit, humor and irony. The arts have also played and are playing an important role. In Belarus today there is Belarus Free Theater, an outlawed underground theater group, whose creativity is a threat to the tyrant there. You can help them here in the Zone of Silence.



In Cuba a while back a group of performance artists organized a non-violence performance in the streets of Havana with signs that said "No + Violencia" (No more violence) and shocked the regime. Although they were quick to say it was not a protest but a performance art piece.



Also in Cuba a punk rock group, Porno para Ricardo, that has challenged the tight boundaries of censorship inviting prison to the lead singer along with detentions and interrogations to the rest of the band but they courageously continue to rock on. Below is a video of one of their concerts in Ciego de Avila. The irreverent lyrics against the dictator are being sung by scores of young Cubans. Ironically, the video is titled "no tenemos coro" - we don't have a chorus because the crowd is acting as the chorus.



At the same time the dictatorship continues to try to censor, control and manipulate authentic cultural expressions. Most recently they seized a music festival called Rotilla from the founders to replace them with party apparatchiks in what is being called a kidnapping. This has led to a response both with direct language by the organizers and in the video below made by Coco Solo Social Club musical performance artists living in Cuba.



The best way to help these artists is to let others know about them and through the increased visibility provide them with a measure of protection.