El Funky, One of the Authors of ‘Homeland and Life’ Receives a Deportation Order From the US.

“My life is in danger in Cuba,” says Eliexer Márquez “El Funky” 14ymedio, Luz Escobar / Yaiza Santos, Madrid, May 9, 2025 (delayed translation) — Eliexer Márquez “El Funky,” one of the authors of Patria y Vida, the anthem of the 11 July 2021 protests, winner of two Grammy Awards, persecuted in Cuba for his dissenting … Continue reading “El Funky, One of the Authors of ‘Homeland and Life’ Receives a Deportation Order From the US.”

One of the Authors of the Grammy Winning Cuban Protest Anthem ‘Homeland and Life’ Receives a Deportation Order From the US

“My life is in danger in Cuba,” says Eliexer Márquez “El Funky.” 14ymedio, Luz Escobar / Yaiza Santos, Madrid, 9 May 2025 — Eliexer Márquez “El Funky,” one of the authors of Patria y Vida, the anthem of the 11 July 2021 protests, winner of two Grammy Awards, persecuted in Cuba for his dissenting songs, … Continue reading “One of the Authors of the Grammy Winning Cuban Protest Anthem ‘Homeland and Life’ Receives a Deportation Order From the US”

‘Paro Nacional’ (National Strike) Is El Funky’s New Song for the Resistance in Cuba, Is Launched in Miami

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami, 20 March 2024 — This Wednesday in Miami, the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance (ARC) presented the new song by Eliexer Márquez “El Funky”, Paro Nacional (National Strike), as part of a series of initiatives in support of the resistance in Cuba. Composed of 54 groups inside and outside the Island, … Continue reading “‘Paro Nacional’ (National Strike) Is El Funky’s New Song for the Resistance in Cuba, Is Launched in Miami”

Celia Cruz, Joined With ‘Patria Y Vida’, the Anthem of the Protests in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 3 October 2023 — Since this Monday, Celia Cruz and Patria y Vida (Homeland and Life), two of the greatest Cuban musical symbols of recent times, are united in a new video clip of the song that became a dissident anthem since its premiere, in February 2021. In this new version, the song incorporates … Continue reading “Celia Cruz, Joined With ‘Patria Y Vida’, the Anthem of the Protests in Cuba”

Cubans Will Have Water Before Fidel Castro’s Birthday, Authorities Promise

14ymedio, Havana, August 3, 2023 — The water pumps that Havanans eagerly awaited to alleviate the chaotic situation of this service in the capital have already arrived. In Havana, 18 will be installed, as announced on Wednesday by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) and reported by the official press. In addition, another four will go to the Isle … Continue reading “Cubans Will Have Water Before Fidel Castro’s Birthday, Authorities Promise”

A Dozen Residents of Central Havana Protest the Lack of Electricity and Water

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, July 24, 2023 — The presence of a State Security motorcycle was the only trace this Monday morning of the protest that took place on Sunday night in Belascoaín and San Lázaro, in Centro Habana . A dozen people managed to interrupt traffic by sitting across the street until two … Continue reading “A Dozen Residents of Central Havana Protest the Lack of Electricity and Water”

From Jail, Rapper Maykel ‘Osorbo’ Suggests He is Willing to Leave Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 30 August 2022 — “If a door were opened for me right now, where I could go into exile, brother, I’d go, do you understand?” The words of Maykel Castillo Osorbo, in a telephone conversation from prison with Armando Labrador, owner of the Cántalo TV YouTube channel, suggest that the artist is willing to … Continue reading “From Jail, Rapper Maykel ‘Osorbo’ Suggests He is Willing to Leave Cuba”

Cuban Rapper Maykel Osorbo Distrusts Prison Doctors to Cure His Illness

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, November 18, 2021–Cuban activist and art curator Anamely Ramos on Wednesday denounced from Miami that the contrarian rapper, Maykel Castillo Osorbo is at risk in jail, where he has been held in isolation for six months. Maykel Castillo “is sick”, denounced Ramos on her Facebook page, telling how after his six-day hunger and … Continue reading “Cuban Rapper Maykel Osorbo Distrusts Prison Doctors to Cure His Illness”

Cuban Rapper El Funky Arrives in Miami and is Received by Yotuel Romero

14ymedio, Havana, 1 November 2021 — Cuban rapper Eliexer Márquez, El Funky, one of the performers of Patria y Vida, arrived this Sunday at the Miami international airport, where he was received by Yotuel Romero. Both will be present at the Latin Grammy gala on November 18, where the song, already known as an anthem for change on the … Continue reading “Cuban Rapper El Funky Arrives in Miami and is Received by Yotuel Romero”

Cuban Rapper Maykel Osboro Ends Hunger and Thirst Strike in Prison

14ymedio, Havana, 31 October 2021 — Rapper Maykel Castillo Osorbo ended the hunger and thirst strike that he started a few days ago at the Kilo Cinco y Medio prison, in Pinar del Río, where he has been since May 31. The curator Anamely Ramos, Osorbo’s partner and a member, like him, of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) reported this on her Facebook page … Continue reading “Cuban Rapper Maykel Osboro Ends Hunger and Thirst Strike in Prison”

Cuban Photographer Anyelo Troya Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Public Disorder’

14ymedio, Havana, 20 July 2021 — Photographer Anyelo, who took the images for the video clip Patria y Vida (CURSIVA), was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison on charges of “public disorder” for his participation in the July 11 demonstrations. Simultaneously, artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), … Continue reading “Cuban Photographer Anyelo Troya Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Public Disorder’”

Maykel Castillo Was Able to Speak From Prison After Eight Days Incommunicado

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 14 June 2021 — After eight days in solitary confinement, rapper Maykel Castillo, known as Osorbo, was able to speak this weekend with his colleague Eliexer Márquez Duany, who is called El Funky. Osorbo is imprisoned in the Cinco y Medio prison in Pinar del Río, awaiting trial for the alleged crimes of “attack,” “public disorder” … Continue reading “Maykel Castillo Was Able to Speak From Prison After Eight Days Incommunicado”

A Group of Exiled Cuban Activists Calls on Washington To Resolve Their ‘Uncertain Migratory Situation’

All face “obstacles to regularizing their status” and express their willingness to meet with Trump representatives. 14ymedio, Havana, May 11, 2025 — A group of Cuban activists living in the United States have addressed an open letter to the Trump administration regarding their “uncertain migratory situation”. Victims, mostly of persecution by the regime, surveillance by … Continue reading “A Group of Exiled Cuban Activists Calls on Washington To Resolve Their ‘Uncertain Migratory Situation’”

La Gente De Zona Premiere ‘Demasiado’, a Hymn to Joy and ‘Cubanidad’

EFE/14ymedio, Miami/Madrid, October 20, 2023 — The Cuban urban music duo Gente de Zona, winner of 7 Latin Grammys and 12 Latin Billboards, premiered this Friday their new single and video, Demasiado, a tropical song with which Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom seek to infect their followers “with joy and flavor.” Demasiado focuses “on the … Continue reading “La Gente De Zona Premiere ‘Demasiado’, a Hymn to Joy and ‘Cubanidad’”

August Doesn’t Offer Cubans a Truce: Blackouts Multiply Throughout the Island

14ymedio, Havana, 9 August 2023 — It is one more year, just at the time of the highest temperatures, when Cubans face the growing shortage of energy and, with it, the dreaded blackouts. For this Wednesday, the Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) forecasts a deficit of 430 megawatts, with an availability of 2,650 MW and … Continue reading “August Doesn’t Offer Cubans a Truce: Blackouts Multiply Throughout the Island”