Singer Albita Dreams Of Going Back To Cuba One Day; Wishes They Held ‘Free Elections’

Cuban singer Albita Rodríguez is not one to forget her island. She dreams of the day she can go back without having to ask for a special permission. Albita started back in Cuba, where her parents were well-known folk music singers. She began working professionally in music by her teenage years, and by the late 80’s her first album was released. In 1990, artistic commitments brought her to Colombia, and from there, she defected to the United States in 1993. She settled in Miami, where she worked as a performer in Spanish food restaurants and a year later she was signed by Emilio Estefan’s Crescent Moon label.

In 1995, Albita’s first US album was released. She became very successful, traveling extensively and performing in places such as Australia, Europe, Malaysia, Africa and of course all of Latin America. She has shared the stage with Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Daniela Mercury , Miriam Makeba , Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Riv era and Melissa Etheridge. She has also been invited to perform at four Presidential functions, including two inaugurations. Ten years ago Albita founded her own label “Angel’s Dawn Records,” under which she produced and released her album “Albita Llegó,” which won her two Grammys in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album.

Although her life has been fulfilled in the professional aspect of it, she still desires to step on her native land. After twenty years, Albita is still “singing to unite all Cubans” and in an interview with El Nuevo Herald, she revealed she holds Cuba in her heart. “I haven’t gone back to Cuba. I dream of going back. Of course I want to go back,” she said. “But I can’t because I have to ask for a special permission to go back, and I don’t ask anyone for permission to go back to my country.”

She also opened up about life after the triumph of the revolution. She claims it was “a big mistake” that a lot of musicians were linked to politics instead of being “always supporting the people and free expression.” “I think it has become clear that music and politics should not mix, that people are people and all the artists who in one way or another became linked to politics, are suffering the consequences now.” Albita is also very clear on what Cuba needs right now. “There should be free elections once and for all,” she added, stressing that all the new reforms that Cuba has taken, and that might give a hint of change, are just “pure makeup,” “cosmetic changes” that are not the real thing and are not enough.

She continued to say that as long as there is a minority that suffers from censorship, and someone who cannot express themselves freely, the fight will prevail. In the interview, she expressed her gratitude towards the United States but claimed Cuba is still impregnated in her soul.