Miami Politicians Are Moving to Ban Cuban Artists, Again

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

When 30-year-old Erik Iglesias Rodríguez — the med school student-turned-bandleader Cimafunk — took the stage at Miami’s Global Cuba Festival in March, the crowd’s enthusiastic roar nearly overwhelmed the sound system. Cimafunk represents Havana’s modern street sound: an electrifying combination of funk and soul, layered over the five-beat clave, or the heartbeat of Cuban music, brought to Cuba by enslaved people from West Africa.

“There’s a strong connection between Miami and Cuba,” explains Cimafunk. “We’re all Cubans regardless of where we live, or how or why we got to where we are now.”

Following President Obama’s 2014 restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and subsequent cultural exchange program, there has been an artistic renaissance between the Cuban people and its diaspora — but it’s now facing increasing opposition in South Florida. Old feelings die hard in Miami, home to many Cuban exiles and their families; and since Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel signed off on Decree 349, which prohibits artists from performing in public or private spaces without approval from the Cuban Ministry of Culture, Miami officials share suspicions that Cuba manipulated the cultural exchange agreement to favor artists who do not criticize the regime.

In June, Miami’s City Commission passed a resolution asking Congress to enact legislation “to permit states and local governments to prohibit the contracting with performers and artists who do business with or are funded by Cuba.” Until the Cuban government realigns with the word and spirit of the cultural exchange, reads the resolution, private bookings may face a ban.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/miami-resolution-ban-cuban-artists-cimafunk-willy-chirino-875917/

[DFW]

1. Let's hope that doesn't extend beyond Miami or Florida

A friend of mine has been operating an art gallery in Massachusetts for over a decade that not only imports and sells art by Cuban artists, but also has them visit the gallery regularly. This year, I got to meet with Edel Bordón, who is sort of an idol of mine, in that his imagination and talent have captured my own imagination since I first saw his work there almost 15 years ago. He gave me a standing invitation to visit him in Havana as soon as Trump is gone, and a measure of sanity has been returned to the State Department and US-Cuban relations. He advised against even trying beforehand. His multiple-entry visa for the USA, granted before the current madness began, permits him to visit the USA without problems (so far!!).