Cuban comedian Mario Sardiñas, famously known for his character Chequera on the show "Vivir del cuento," has taken to Facebook with a humorous video. In this clip, he cleverly adapts a classic song to highlight the dire crisis affecting Cuba.
This time around, the actor reimagines the chorus of "40 y 20," a timeless piece by the late Mexican singer José José, to spotlight the hardships faced by countless Cubans: 40 hours without power and 20 days without water.
In the video, a neighbor inquires why Chequera is in such high spirits, prompting him to sing along to the familiar tune: "40 y 20, 40 y 20... we've gone 40 hours without electricity and 20 days without water."
The sketch culminates with a line that encapsulates the public's exhaustion: "If we keep going without water and power, by next week I'll declare myself a weevil with cataracts."
The phrase humorously merges the "weevil"—an insect known for surviving without liquid in stored food—with "cataracts," one of the most common causes of vision loss.
José José's "40 y 20," released in 1992, tells a love story between two individuals with a significant age gap. Chequera maintains the melody but alters the narrative: the numbers now signify hours without electricity and days without water, a reinterpretation that resonates instantly with the Cuban audience.
The video has garnered over 254,000 views, illustrating the immediate impact of its message among Cubans both on and off the island.
This sketch emerges amid one of the most severe electric and water crises Cuba has faced in recent years. In September, power generation deficits exceeded 2,000 MW, with some areas experiencing continuous blackouts lasting over 32 hours.
The water crisis is directly linked to the power outages: 87% of the water supply system relies on the electric grid, meaning no power equals no water pumping. Official data from May indicated that about 2.7 million Cubans lacked regular access to potable water, while much of the remaining population received it intermittently.
This isn't Chequera's first comedic take on the crisis. Recently, he addressed the shortages of cooking oil, liquefied gas, and water in another clip, and previously, he turned a food tray into an antenna to find an Internet signal, a video that exceeded 334,000 views.
Earlier this month, he starred in a sketch about proverbs that no longer apply in Cuba—among them "agua que no has de beber, déjala correr"—which amassed over 64,000 views.
Understanding Cuba's Critical Power and Water Shortages
Why is the water crisis in Cuba tied to the electric grid?
In Cuba, 87% of the water supply system depends on electricity for pumping. Thus, when there are power outages, water distribution is also severely affected.
How have Cubans reacted to Chequera's videos?
Chequera's videos have resonated strongly with Cubans, both on the island and abroad, due to their humorous yet poignant portrayal of the ongoing crises. His recent videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.