Cuban Cultural authorities suspended without offering explanations until now a tribute to the legendary performer Celia Cruz that Teatro El Público would perform this Sunday at the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) under the title: “Celia.” Complaints are growing on the networks about a new act of censorship against a great figure of Cuban culture for political reasons.
A brief note from the Programming Subdirectorate of the National Center for Popular Music, shared from Facebook, made it known this Thursday that “the presentation of the theater group El Público, scheduled for this Sunday the 19th, at 8:30 pm, in Hall 3 of Fábrica de Arte Cubano, will not take place.”
One of the first to react was the playwright Norge Espinosa, linked to the show, who assured: “I will comment something later. When I find words about this discreet official note. If that is possible.”
“2025 and the same QUESTION continues”
Also Rosa Marquettimusicographer and author of the books Celia in Cuba and Celia in the worldstressed that this is “one more chapter in the history of censorship and the application of methods of political commissariat within Cuban culture.”
“Some of those involved in this heartfelt initiative, after days of rehearsals and work, recount incidents of personal summonses, unappealable orders and threats anticipating negative consequences for those who dare to disobedience,” Marquetti wrote from Facebook.
For the researcher and author of other books about great Cuban musicians, such as Chano Pozo, Life (1915-1948)it is an “erratic statement from a bureaucratic entity that has nothing to do with the performing arts” and that “transparents the fear and haste with which it was written, and where they do not even mention the name of CELIA CRUZ.”
“They have been afraid of that voice for 60 years, trembling with fear just by pronouncing or writing its name, terrified of its extraordinary power of summoning, knowing well that its cry of ‘Sugar!’ and its joy carry and convince much more than the bitterness and karmic negativity with which they impose orders, distribute slaps and threaten with the only thing they have: the force of factual power.”
From the same social network and when faced with the direct question of why the new censorship occurs, the X Alfonsoat the head of FAC, claimed not to have an answer, and shared one of his themes whose letter says: “Resignation is not the solution to end the problems, problems that the systems impose on you.“. X Alfonso’s video was accompanied with the phrase: “2025 and the same QUESTION continues.”
“Celia does not need permission from any government”
For researcher Rosa Marquetti, the Cuban bureaucracy is afraid of Celia Cruz and that is why “they do not forgive her for her marronage by defending and exhibiting her right to think differently and act accordingly.”
“No musician has ever sung Cuba as much as CELIA CRUZ, with the wisdom with which she made it clear that these three concepts —country, homeland, nation— They had no place in the representation and excesses of a government. And the name of Cuba shone, danced and enjoyed in her voice like no one else, in the entire world,” notes Marquetti, who summarizes: “CELIA does not need the kindness or permission of any government to be, 21 years after her death, what she is in an incontestable way.”
Until yesterday Teatro El Público had been promoting the gala show for the centenary of Celia Cruz, directed by Carlos Díaz and with dramaturgy by Norge Espinosa. Produced between FAC, La Mansión Castillo and Teatro El Público, it would have a staging assisted by Antonio Bernal and general production by Elmer Castillo.
Celia Cruz, born in Havana on October 21, 1925 and known worldwide as the “Guarachera of Cuba”, died in the United States on July 16, 2003.
During her exile, which began in July 1960, Celia was canceled in Cuba for her criticism of the Cuban Revolution, while her career became increasingly successful around the world.
Cubans on the island have practically had no access to his work on a regular basis and, twelve years after his physical disappearance, censorship persists: he is not included in radio and television programs. Some artists have made specific tributes that are usually interpreted as daring or disobedience to official policy.
