While the world celebrates her centenary with tributes in the United States, Europe and Latin America, the Cuban regime maintains absolute silence about the artist.
MIAMI.- Cuban cultural authorities canceled a gala in tribute to Celia Cruzthe incomparable “Queen of Salsa”, organized by the Teatro El Público group under the direction of Carlos Díaz, 2015 National Theater Award winner.
The show, scheduled for next October 19 at the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), would celebrate the hundred years since the birth of the singer (1925-2003), one of the most universal figures of Cuban music.
In a brief statementthe Programming Subdirectorate of the National Center of Popular Music, an entity attached to the Ministry of Culture, reported that “the presentation of the Teatro El Público group, scheduled for this Sunday the 19th at 8:30 pm in Hall 3 of Fábrica de Arte Cubano, will not take place,” without offering any explanation.
The tribute had texts and musical advice from Norge Espinosa Mendoza, and the participation of renowned performers such as Estrellita, Lucho Calzadilla, Freddy Maragoto, Roberto Romero, Georbis Martínez, Danielito Tri-Tri, Brian Pérez and Chai Deivis Torres, in addition to the collaboration of La Mansión Castillo.
The measure caused immediate rejection among artists and intellectuals on and off the island, who described the event as a shameful act of cultural censorship against an artist who, despite exile and the ban on her music in Cuba, continues to be a symbol of national identity.
The musical historian Rosa Marquetti, author of two books about Celia Cruz, expressed on social networks his indignation:
“They have been trying for 60 years to stain – without success – one of the most extraordinary life trajectories in the cultural field in the defense of an identity, with a sense of belonging that is beyond proof.
They have been attacking her for 60 years, overwhelming her, dumping on her the misogyny and plantation racism that has characterized many of the cultural decisions and policies, while she stood in the world as the greatest representation of what is Cuban, the best known, the most loved, the most applauded, the most honored.
That is why they fear him, that is why they do not forgive him for his marronage in defending and displaying his right to think differently and act accordingly.”Marquetti recalled that no musician sang as much about Cuba as Celia Cruz. “The name of Cuba shone, danced and enjoyed in his voice like no one else in the whole world,” he recalled.
For his part, actor Freddy Maragoto, a member of Teatro El Público, wrote on his Facebook account: “In any case, she always returns, because to talk about Cuban music you have to have Celia Cruz.”
While the world celebrates its centenary with tributes in the United States, Europe and Latin America, the Cuban regime maintains absolute silence about the artist who carried Cuba’s name highest on the world’s stages.
