A riveting monologue by Cuban actress Yia Caamaño has become one of the most talked-about videos among the Cuban online community this weekend.
Released on Instagram, the video has garnered over 100,000 views in less than a day and has received more than 12,600 likes. Titled "They Should Leave," it draws from a piece by Cuban playwright Freddys Núñez Estenoz. The direction was handled by Caamaño herself and Cuban filmmaker Jhona Tome, who also took charge of the cinematography and editing.
The monologue delivers a strong message directed at the leaders of Cuba's regime. From the outset, Caamaño's voice leaves no room for ambiguity: "They should pack their bags, stuff them with their millions, and leave. From the bottom of my heart, I wish them bad luck on their journey. From the bottom of my heart, I wish them the worst."
The narrative offers no forgiveness and doesn't ask for it either. "Don't ask for forgiveness, it's unnecessary. No forgiveness is possible," the actress declares, before moving to one of the most striking images that directly references the power outages suffocating Cuba.
"They should leave in the dead of night, when no one sleeps. Because for a long time now, no one has slept. Too much darkness to sleep, too much darkness to dream," she continues.
Away from nostalgia, the monologue turns memory into a warning. "We won't miss you, we will remember you. Remembering is the only way to ensure this catastrophe never happens again."
The monologue concludes with a hopeful vision for the Cuban diaspora, which in recent years has reached unprecedented levels of emigration.
"They should leave, and you'll see thousands return. What am I saying, thousands? Millions, and we'll break the record for hugs in a single night," Caamaño asserts, before delivering the text's most forceful ending: "Because it would be wonderful to celebrate their non-existence."
Yia Caamaño is one of the most acclaimed actresses on Cuban television, known for leading roles in soap operas like "Asuntos pendientes" and "El rostro de los días." Since February 2023, she has been residing in Miami and obtained her permanent residency in the United States in May 2024.
The text's author, Freddys Núñez Estenoz, is a playwright from Camagüey and the founder of the Teatro del Viento collective, renowned both for his theatrical work and for publicly criticizing Cuba's healthcare crisis and governmental neglect.
The fact that his text circulated online before being adapted into a video format indicates that the monologue had already resonated within the Cuban community.
Impact of Yia Caamaño's Monologue
What is the significance of Yia Caamaño's monologue?
Yia Caamaño's monologue is significant as it delivers a powerful critique of the Cuban regime, resonating deeply with the Cuban diaspora and highlighting the ongoing struggles within the country.
Who is Freddys Núñez Estenoz?
Freddys Núñez Estenoz is a Camagüey-based playwright, founder of the Teatro del Viento collective, and is known for both his theatrical contributions and his vocal criticisms of Cuba's governmental and healthcare issues.