Cuban reggaeton artists Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13 have opted to reschedule their performance in Santiago de Cuba, originally set for July 26. This decision comes amidst the Cuban regime's "celebrations" for the Day of National Rebellion and following a wave of criticism regarding their involvement in events organized by the dictatorship.
Controversy erupted when it was revealed that both artists would share the stage with Juan Guillermo Almeida, known as JG and son of the late commander Juan Almeida Bosque, during the Santiago carnivals. These events are promoted by Cuban authorities as part of the official commemorations.
However, journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported on social media that the singers made a last-minute change to their schedule. They will now close the "Rumbón Mayor" on Sunday, July 27, at the same Tarima de la Alameda where they were initially set to perform alongside JG. This move seems to be an attempt to distance themselves from the official image of the event and to mitigate the backlash generated by their association with figures directly linked to the regime.
The rescheduling has been seen by some as a strategy to calm tensions following the "embarrassment" of being, in Mayeta's words, "used as artistic bait by Caribbean communism." Based in Miami, Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13 have faced harsh criticism from the Cuban exile community, not only for holding concerts on the island—which requires regime approval—but also for doing so around July 26, a date heavy with political symbolism for the government and opposed by many in the diaspora.
In a country suffocated by an unprecedented economic crisis, marked by shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and endless blackouts, the regime's hosting of carnivals is not only infuriating but also perceived as a cynical mockery of the daily struggles faced by millions of Cubans.
While the Cuban people endure dire conditions, the government spares no expense to fund festivities and propaganda, relying on popular entertainment figures to attempt to polish its image.
Questions About Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13's Concert Rescheduling
Why did Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13 reschedule their concert in Santiago de Cuba?
They rescheduled their concert to distance themselves from the officialist image of the event and address the backlash from their association with figures linked to the Cuban regime.
What was controversial about their original concert date?
The original concert date coincided with the Cuban regime's celebrations for the Day of National Rebellion, a politically significant date that many in the Cuban diaspora oppose.