Due to her opposition of Fidel Castro, Cruz’s legacy remains in conflict with Cuban government.
The community took the celebration of the legendary salsa singer into its own hands after the Cuban government canceled a commemorative performance at the Cuban Art Factory. Many called the cancellation, for which officials offered no explanation, an act of censorship.
“She was an ambassador of Cuban music, of Cuban rhythms in the world… of our flavor, of our dances, of our joy, of ‘that’ contagious thing,” said Father Ariel Suárez during his homily, as reported by AP News. “I thank God because she brought joy to many people, because she made Cuba a presence in the world.”
Local contemporary artists also flocked to the church to pay their respects to the woman who put Cuban music on the map. An artists’ cohort brought the service for Cruz into fruition.
Known for her popular phrase of “Azucar!, Cruz gained international fame despite her music being left out by government-controlled media. Despite the love from the people, the Cuban government still has contentious relations with her legacy. The cancellation of the tribute performance by the state-run National Center for Popular Music suggests that even decades later, her opposition to Castro has led to the persistent suppression of her impact.
However, the people of Cuba refuse to let her legacy fall by the wayside.
Despite the show’s axing, the Cuban Art Factory placed a chair lit with overhead lights on stage for the entire slotted time—the symbolic effort sought to show that Cruz will never be forgotten by her people.
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Source: Black Enterprise
