This week, Cuban comedians Miguel Moreno (known as “La Llave”) and Carlos Gonzalvo (alias “Mentepollo”) shared a clip from their show “Frenarte Show” on Instagram, depicting the National Economy as a desperate woman turning to a babalawo for help, having exhausted all other options.
The sketch, posted on the La Risa Nostra channel, quickly became a hot topic among the Cuban community on social media.
In the video, the National Economy appears before the Yoruba priest visibly disheartened and with a broken arm. The diagnosis is both accurate and devastating: “Ever since my left side broke, I’ve had nothing to hold onto. You know I’m left-handed, and I can’t manage with my right.”
This line is a clear nod to the collapse of Cuba's alliances with Venezuela and other leftist-led governments in the region, as well as the regime's failure to implement market policies that could lift the country out of its dire state.
The character continues lamenting to the babalawo: “Godfather, lately I feel like I'm going backward, backward, backward, not progressing.” She ends with a question that echoes the sentiment of millions of Cubans: “Oh godfather, do I have little time left?”
The babalawo’s response has been widely shared among the show’s followers: “Don’t worry, my child, you’re the one who will outlive us all.”
To avert further disasters, the babalawo instructs the National Economy on the animals required for a spiritual cleansing, known as ebbó.
“Not just one animal. You need to sacrifice about eight! Bring me three pigs, five goats—three of them gray and two scapegoats. Oh, and a crab,” the priest advises. The last animal leaves the National Economy stunned: “Oh godfather... where am I supposed to find that?”
The dark humor of the sketch resonates deeply with the island's current reality.
Current Crisis and Economic Outlook
According to projections by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Cuba's economy could shrink by 7.2% in 2026, marking a total decline of 23% since 2019. The projected fiscal deficit for this year exceeds 74,500 million Cuban pesos.
The energy crisis worsened in January with the capture of Nicolás Maduro, halting between 25,000 and 30,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil daily, causing blackouts lasting up to 25 hours. Since 2022, more than 600,000 Cubans have left the island.
In this context, the babalawo's role becomes a potent metaphor: if the economy must consult a religious figure for answers, it means rational solutions have long been exhausted.
The full episode is available on the La Risa Nostra YouTube channel.
The audience reaction was swift. “Top-notch humor, thank you for making these videos,” one follower wrote.
“A masterpiece, brilliant,” remarked another. A third comment paraphrased the sketch, creating a new catchphrase: “Since the left broke, I’ve got nothing to cling to.”
Another user captured the essence of the sketch in three words: “Brilliant. To the wise...”
Understanding the Cuban Economic Crisis
What is the significance of the babalawo in the sketch?
The babalawo represents a last resort for guidance, symbolizing the exhaustion of rational economic solutions in Cuba.
How has Cuba's economy been affected in recent years?
Cuba's economy has faced a projected 23% decline since 2019, with significant challenges due to fiscal deficits and energy shortages.
Why is the sketch popular among Cubans?
The sketch uses dark humor to reflect the dire economic situation in Cuba, resonating with many who feel similarly desperate.