Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac shared his thoughts on Facebook about the so-called "Matanzas conga," a viral video that sparked heated debate both in Cuba and among the diaspora. The video depicts a street celebration where participants, including minors, chanted a phrase interpreted as an incitement to violence, specifically suggesting a stabbing in exchange for delivering food to prison.
In his commentary, Toirac dismissed the simplistic moral condemnation of the event and, more importantly, criticized the regime's supporters who portrayed the conga as evidence that the Cuban people are having fun rather than protesting.
"The 'famous' Matanzas conga—or 'conga of the slaughter,' which might be more fitting—does not reflect a rebellion against the conditions that have led us to such precariousness. Instead, it highlights a marginality that chooses violence for violence's sake, rather than directing it at the establishment," Toirac wrote.
Toirac argued that presenting this conga as proof of the people's happiness is, in his words, "at the very least, cynical."
"It fails to prove its point and instead serves as evidence of being a Failed State in all its glory, marginalizing people to the extent that they sing about the most crude and naked violence, without any pretense: urging murder," he added.
Understanding the Social Context
The comedian offered a broader social perspective, describing Cuba as a "jungle society" resulting from decades of accumulated decay.
"From family overcrowding to economic misery, the poor quality of education, the distortion of the mission and quality of public security forces, and the total abandonment by the government of large segments of the population," he enumerated.
He also rejected the notion that there is only one way for people to respond to the crisis: "People will always make congas, jokes, and have parties; no matter how dire their situation is. Stop expecting everyone to behave in one specific way. That's not how the brain works."
The Impact of Systemic Pressure
In his view, the Matanzas conga exposes the pressure the system exerts on individuals.
"I've never lived in another era where marginality took its 'artistic' expressions to such extremes. And I put 'artistic' in quotes not because it's not genuine—it certainly is—but because of the societal arm-twisting that brings out the worst in people this way," Toirac wrote.
Toirac's analysis comes amid a period of heightened critical activity on social media. On June 24, in a television interview, he stated that Cuba is "in a maze with no solution, at least not in my lifetime."
On June 22, he warned that the government is "merely trying to buy time" with its economic measures, and days earlier mocked the 176 measures announced by the regime, calling them overdue and ineffective.
Toirac concluded his post about the conga with a phrase that directly ties the phenomenon to the regime's official rhetoric: "This—and everything that led to this—is what I see when I hear or read 'the conquests that must be defended.' That's all."
The expression "the conquests that must be defended" is a recurring phrase in the Communist Party of Cuba's discourse, referring to the supposed achievements of the Revolution in health, education, and sovereignty.
Insights on the Matanzas Conga and Cuban Society
What sparked the controversy surrounding the Matanzas conga?
The controversy arose from a viral video showing a street celebration where participants, including minors, chanted a phrase interpreted as encouraging violence in exchange for delivering food to prison.
How does Ulises Toirac view the Matanzas conga?
Toirac sees the conga not as a sign of happiness but as a reflection of a failed state, highlighting societal marginalization and the inclination towards raw violence.
What broader context does Toirac provide about Cuban society?
Toirac describes Cuba as a "jungle society," shaped by decades of degradation, marked by overcrowding, economic hardship, and a lack of governmental support for large portions of the population.