Esteemed musician and songwriter Cándido Fabré kicked off a concert in Bayamo with passionate shouts of "Long Live Fidel!" on Friday, invigorating the conclusion of May Day festivities in the Granma province. This event was part of the commemoration of the late Cuban dictator's 100th birthday.
The beloved artist from Santiago performed at the El Bosque area in Granma's capital following the official parade. The concert, confirmed a day prior by Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Granma, was touted on her Facebook as a historic occasion.
Fabré's performance began with the rallying cry, "Long Live Fidel! Do you want a party? Let’s do it!" before launching into his song "Ustedes quieren fiesta," which the Bayamo crowd enthusiastically sang along to.
A video uploaded to Facebook by Michel Carlos Santiesteban captured the musician leading the show from a professionally equipped stage at El Bosque, complete with metal structures and sound systems.
This concert aligned with the regime's official motto for the year, "The Homeland is Defended," which pays tribute to Castro's centennial, the 65th anniversary of Playa Girón, and the 22nd Congress of the Cuban Workers' Central Union.
Fabré is no stranger to supporting regime events in Granma. In March 2025, he participated in a revolutionary reaffirmation ceremony in Río Cauto, within the same province.
Earlier this year, he publicly praised former leader Lázaro Expósito, asserting that "with revolution and socialism, it is possible to inspire and uplift a people."
However, Fabré has shown more nuanced positions at other times. In March, he envisioned a symbolic bridge connecting Miami and Havana to promote reconciliation among Cubans.
Previously, in December, he invoked Fidel Castro's "concept of Revolution" to advocate for the release of Juan Ramiro Arzuaga, a member of his orchestra imprisoned in Mayabeque.
The national May Day event in Havana also bore the regime's political imprint. Raúl Castro presided over the ceremony, while leader Miguel Díaz-Canel spearheaded the march, which was relocated from the Plaza de la Revolución to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune near the U.S. Embassy, citing "austerity" and the "harsh energy blockade" as reasons.
The day included controversial moments. In Pinar del Río, a neonatal incubator was paraded publicly during the march, alongside a giant medical prescription depicting Fidel Castro as the "doctor" and Trump as the "patient."
While the Cuban populace struggles with monthly wages of approximately $15, Díaz-Canel marched wearing Adidas sneakers valued over $1,000.
Observers and critics noted that attendance at the central event was significantly lower than in previous years, with a May Day characterized by forced participation and the blank expressions of marchers.
Exploring the May Day Celebrations in Cuba
What was the significance of Cándido Fabré's concert in Bayamo?
Cándido Fabré's concert in Bayamo was significant as it marked the conclusion of May Day festivities in Granma province, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro's birth and aligning with the Cuban regime's political themes.
How did the May Day event in Havana differ this year?
This year's May Day event in Havana was relocated from the Plaza de la Revolución to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, justified by the government as a measure of "austerity" amid an "energy blockade."
What controversies arose during the May Day celebrations?
Controversies included a public display of a neonatal incubator in Pinar del Río and a mock prescription featuring Fidel Castro as "doctor" and Trump as "patient," alongside criticism of Díaz-Canel's expensive footwear.