A brief sketch, lasting less than a minute and shared on Facebook by comedian Loky Kubah, has struck a chord with countless Cubans. It uses dark humor to portray the stark choice facing young people on the island: flee or fall victim to street violence.
In this viral video, a young man returns to his neighborhood after two years of military service and sets out to reconnect with his old friends. The response he gets at each door is the same: they've left. Daniel has been out of Cuba for almost a year. Carlos moved to Brazil with his father last month. Damián relocated to Spain.
The protagonist receives a shocking answer when he inquires about Ernesto, the only one who hadn't emigrated: "No, Ernesto was killed for his scooter. Last week."
The character's reaction—"Madre pavo"—and the line that ends the sketch encapsulate a reality that millions of Cubans identify with: "This is the future for Cuba's youth. We either leave, or we get killed."
The video is not purely fictional. The destinations mentioned—United States, Brazil, Spain—are precisely where the Cuban exodus is headed. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), Cuba experienced a net migration loss of 245,264 people in 2025, reducing the total population to 9,434,593.
What's most concerning is the demographic leaving the island. Researchers from the Center for Demographic Studies (CEDEM) reported that 50% of Cuban emigrants are under 35, a demographic that makes up just 38.4% of the total population, according to a July analysis on the demographic bomb draining Cuba of its youth. Independent estimates suggest over a million people have left since 2021.
The Reality Behind the Violence
The other element of the sketch—violence—is far from symbolic. The Cuban Observatory for Citizen Audit (OCAC) reported 2,833 verified crimes across 2025, marking a 115% increase from 2024 and a 337% rise compared to 2023.
Theft emerged as the most common offense, with 1,536 cases recorded, a 479% jump since 2023. Additionally, 63 murders were documented in the first half of that year, reflecting the alarming surge in crime throughout 2025.
Stealing scooters—central to the video’s crime—is a real and frequent issue on an island where fuel shortages make electric scooters and gasoline highly valuable. Documented cases of young people being killed for their phones, jewelry, or scooters have occurred in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and other provinces between 2025 and 2026.
Loky Kubah: A Voice of Satirical Protest
Loky Kubah is no stranger to this form of protest. In August of this year, another of his videos—addressing the rising cost of oil—garnered over 39,000 reactions on Facebook. In June, a sketch about the impossible math between 2,500-peso salaries and food costs generated nearly a thousand comments.
In Cuba, dark humor serves as a social barometer. This video indicates a high fever: a September 2025 survey found that 93% of respondents would leave Cuba "tomorrow" if they could, according to independent Cuban media.
Comedian Ulises Toirac commented this year that Cuban emigration signifies a lack of perceived future in the country, describing it as a matter of perception, not just economics or politics. Loky Kubah's sketch reaches the same conclusion in thirty seconds, with a starkness unmatched by any statistical report.
Understanding the Cuban Youth Exodus
Why are young Cubans emigrating?
Young Cubans are leaving due to a combination of economic hardships, lack of opportunities, and increasing violence, leading them to seek better futures abroad.
What impact is emigration having on Cuba?
The emigration of young people is contributing to a demographic crisis, with significant population decline and a loss of the younger workforce that is crucial for the country's future.
How is violence affecting Cuban society?
Rising violence, including theft and murder, is creating a climate of fear and insecurity, further motivating people to leave the island in search of safety and stability.