Cándido Fabré, the renowned improviser from Santiago known for his mastery in Cuban dance music, has turned the oil crisis into a musical rhythm with his latest song titled “The Oil.” He shared the lyrics on his Facebook page on Friday and announced, "This Sunday, I'm taking to the streets with sound and image."
Stamped with his unmistakable signature—"Authored by me, Cándido, the son of Sixta and Papá Neto"—and a note of gratitude to the people, the song transforms the desperation of millions of Cubans into a son clave rhythm. For months, these Cubans have seen neither a drop of oil in the store nor a price that isn’t offensive.
The chorus leaves no room for ambiguity: "Lower the oil / I want to eat with fat." The lyrics, with the characteristic brevity of Cuban improvisation, paint a stark reality: "The oil vanished / taken from the kiosk / lost before your eyes / it drives you crazy." Fabré meticulously describes the black market circuit: "The middleman takes it out / price hikes like a rocket / under the counter / the oil must drop."
The Broader Crisis of Scarcity
The song also highlights the widespread shortage of fats: "Lard is expensive / okra won’t slide / we must eat dry yucca / the oil is gone." It concludes with an image all too familiar to Cubans: "In the neighboring store / there's nothing on the ration card / it’s pouring on the soaked / the rope tightens, never loosens."
The backdrop is significant. The Ministry of Finance and Prices' Resolution 150/2026, published in June, removed the price caps on imported edible oils—previously set at 990 pesos per liter. By August, prices soared from around 1,500 pesos in April to between 4,000 and 7,000 pesos across various provinces. Alberto López Díaz, the Minister of the Food Industry, conceded in June that the rationed basket had not distributed oil, chicken, or yogurt for the entire year.
A Tradition of Humor in Hardship
Fabré is not the first creative voice to tackle this scarcity with wit and humor. In August, poet Sindy Manuel Torres went viral with a poem describing frying an egg as "ostentation," "sin," and "crime." Earlier this month, a Cuban woman likened her struggle to buy three liters of sunflower oil in Marianao to "giving birth to triplets." Netizens, true to form, celebrated Fabré’s song with comments ranging from laughter to lamentation, with many remarking that "only Cubans can find humor in misfortune."
This isn't the first time the Santiago musician—an often vocal supporter of the island's regime—has turned a national crisis into a song. In March 2024, he composed "Between Blackouts and Power On" about the electrical collapse, featuring the refrain "They take it away, they put it back. They put it back, they take it away." In November 2025, he lashed out on Facebook against private businesses that raised prices "every minute."
As the Food Monitor Program reports that more than 90% of Cubans lack adequate access to nutritious food, and independent estimates suggest a family needs around 96,000 pesos a month to meet basic needs, Fabré announces he will take to the streets with sound and image this Sunday, focusing on the elusive oil. In Cuba, when reality surpasses any fiction, music remains a steadfast companion.
Understanding the Oil Crisis in Cuba
Why is there an oil shortage in Cuba?
The oil shortage in Cuba is largely due to the removal of price caps on imported edible oils, which has led to a significant increase in prices, making it unaffordable for many Cubans.
How are Cubans coping with the scarcity of oil?
Cubans are relying on humor and creativity to deal with the oil scarcity, as seen in Cándido Fabré's song and other artistic expressions. However, many are struggling as they cannot access or afford basic cooking essentials.
What impact has the oil crisis had on Cuban households?
The crisis has forced households to alter their cooking habits, often resorting to less nutritious and less tasty food options due to the lack of available and affordable cooking oil.