From the high-security Guanajay prison, artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara released an audio piece on April 21, in which he names each of his beloved family members who passed away during his nearly five years of imprisonment, those he couldn't say goodbye to.
Curator and activist Anamely Ramos, who shared the piece on her social media, described the work as profoundly moving: "So much so that I needed these weeks to let it settle within me before I could say anything," she wrote in her post.
In the audio, Otero Alcántara performs a moyugba—a prayer invoking ancestors in the Yoruba/Lucumí tradition—using the phrase "Ibae bayen tonu," which translates to "I salute you, those who have vanished," akin to "Rest in peace."
He mentions his father Luis Otero Chala, his uncle Manolo Otero Chala, his mother Vivian del Carmen Alcántara Carbonell, his maternal uncle José Antonio Pérez Carbonell, his maternal uncle Jorge Alberto Alcántara Carbonell, his grandmothers Nilda Carbonell Carrión, Georgina Chala, and Dulce María Sardá Ramírez, and his friends Maritza Herrera Soler and Augusto Prieto.
Accompanying the piece is an audio in which the artist painfully asks, "I couldn't say goodbye to my grandmother, my uncle, my mom... why not? Are we the worst criminals? Perhaps we are the best children of this country."
Ramos highlighted that the form chosen by Luis Manuel "has been used by the Yoruba tradition for centuries, and ordinary people have made it their own, sometimes without knowing all its elements, but feeling its power and truth."
The activist emphasized the collective reach of the piece: "Luis steps forward and gestures. He invites us to transform it into a collective act of relief and healing. A prayer, ultimately, so that everyone's losses find peace."
The artist's mother, Vivian del Carmen Alcántara Carbonell, passed away on January 5, 2021, at 57, months before his arrest during the July 11, 2021, protests.
Sentenced in June 2022 to five years in prison for "insulting national symbols," "contempt," and "public disorder," Otero Alcántara has continued to create art from his cell as a form of resistance, despite the oppressive conditions he reports.
The April 21 piece was produced at a time of heightened tension: weeks after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal and agents from State Security Department 21 threatened his life, leading him to an eight-day hunger strike from March 30 to April 6.
Days after releasing this work, he published an opinion piece in The New York Times from prison, describing his captivity as "a performance that should have ended long ago."
Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience and demands his immediate release. His five-year sentence is set to end in July 2026, although the regime has hinted at a possible extension.
Key Questions About Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's Imprisonment
What led to Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's imprisonment?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was sentenced in June 2022 to five years in prison for "insulting national symbols," "contempt," and "public disorder" following his participation in the July 11, 2021, protests.
How has Otero Alcántara continued his art from prison?
Despite oppressive conditions, Otero Alcántara has persisted in creating art as a form of resistance and expression from his cell, demonstrating resilience and commitment to his craft.
What is the significance of the audio piece released on April 21?
The audio piece serves as a farewell to loved ones Otero Alcántara lost during his imprisonment, using a traditional Yoruba prayer to honor them and invite collective healing.
What has been the international response to Otero Alcántara's situation?
International organizations like Amnesty International have recognized him as a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate release, highlighting the political nature of his detention.