Gossip and Gags about Obama’s visit to Cuba
HAVANA TIMES – These days you don’t need to walk far in the island’s capital to overhear a curious (and often amusing) comment about President Obama’s much-awaited visit. In the traditional Cuban fashion, humor and irony mix with banter and gossip as the whole of Havana buzzes with expectation.
“Do you know what they’re calling Obama?” yells the taxi driver over the blare of the radio as we pass under the tunnel of Linea. “El Eleggua” he chuckles. “Because he’ll open the paths for us.”
In Santería and popular belief El Eleggua is recognized as the Orisha (spirit) that looks after the paths of life – he opens and closes them. He is also recognized as the trickster, who likes to play jokes on people.
The taxi driver’s reflection couldn’t have been more spot on. It was just yesterday that President Obama’s good humor was leaked via social media and is now gracing the living rooms of the world via national news from the BBC to CNN. His readiness to be the ‘butt of a joke’ himself , in his unexpected appearance with “Panfilo”, the protagonist of Cuba’s most popular weekly comedy show “Vivir del Cuento” (trans: Living on ones wits), has endeared him to the Cuban people.
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Obama’s name is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Cubans are adopting him, they’re cubanizing him, appropriating his persona as one of them. It is not only Obama’s “opening of doors” but rather his personable approach and love of a joke which is winning their hearts.
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=117484
