A parade of horse-drawn carriages making its way through the streets of Bayamo has gone viral this week. Captured by the Facebook page El Quijote Bayamés, the scene was succinctly summarized with a telling question: "Here, we don't even know what a birthday is, people are just escaping the blackout, with nothing else to do."
The 23-second video garnered over 75,000 views and nearly 2,000 reactions on Facebook. Comments from followers painted a vivid picture of a city that celebrates in daylight because nighttime brings darkness.
"It's nice to see the people of my Bayamo happy. But like you said, they're escaping the blackout. When night falls, the party's over, and it's time to fight off mosquitoes," remarked one user.
Another was more straightforward: "Despite the blackout, with conga and rumba, it's time to enjoy."
Some residents understand the implications of the conga better than any official. "It's reasons like this why Granma is so messed up," commented one observer.
"Even after two days without power, people find happiness in the simplest things, and the government knows it. Occasionally, they provide some beer and lousy music, and that's how they keep control in Granma," noted another social media user.
Another individual was more direct about the underlying issue: "They're running from the blackout, but when they should be taking action is when we're subjected to over forty hours of outages and other hardships."
The irony captured in the video serves as a warning. "This is how we live, like madmen," summarized one commentator.
With a touch of bitter humor, another stated that Bayamo's residents are "returning to the Stone Age," to which the video's creator replied, "We might need to start hunting mammoths."
The backdrop is grim. On June 10, Granma's Electric Company reported that circuit 4117, serving areas like San Francisco, Calicito, and Campechuela, had surpassed 45 consecutive hours without power.
Other circuits in the province had accumulated between 43 and 44 hours of outage on the same day.
By June 11, regions such as Jiguaní, Media Luna, Yara, and Las Novillas were approaching 48-49 hours without electricity.
The regime's response to public dissatisfaction follows a familiar pattern. On June 5, Bayamo authorities mobilized members of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution to "explain" the reasons for the blackouts, district by district, as part of the movement Barrio por la Patria.
Shortly afterwards, the Communist Party's first secretary in Granma portrayed the sight of neighbors cooking on the street during outages as an act of "humanism."
In August 2025, the government organized popular festivals from the 7th to the 10th of the month despite the ongoing energy and food crisis.
In May 2025, Bayamo witnessed protests with cries of "electricity!" and "food!" as residents blocked a bridge and gathered in various neighborhoods.
Understanding the Power Outage Situation in Bayamo
Why did the horse-drawn carriage parade in Bayamo go viral?
The parade went viral as it highlighted the residents' creative response to escape the ongoing power outages in Bayamo, capturing the irony of celebrating during the day due to nighttime blackouts.
How long were some areas in Granma without electricity?
On June 10, certain areas in Granma, such as San Francisco, Calicito, and Campechuela, experienced more than 45 consecutive hours without power. Other regions faced outages lasting 43 to 44 hours.
How has the government responded to the energy crisis in Granma?
The government has tried to appease the situation by organizing events and portraying acts like street cooking as examples of "humanism," while also mobilizing groups to explain the blackouts to the public.