Israel Rojas Blames U.S. for Cuba's Crisis and Mass Exodus, Defending the Regime

Israel Rojas, the frontman of the duo Buena Fe and an ardent supporter of the Cuban regime, has once again directed blame at the United States for the systemic crisis plaguing Cuba and the unprecedented exodus of nearly two million citizens fleeing hunger, oppression, poverty, and a lack of opportunities. In a discussion with Alberto Alvarado, a Venezuelan National Assembly member and broadcaster for La Iguana TV, Rojas, also an officer in Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT), reiterated his stance that the U.S. is responsible for the economic and social failures of the Havana and Caracas regimes.

Aired in late November with just 1,798 views on YouTube, the interview allowed both proponents of their respective authoritarian and oppressive regimes to laud dictators Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, sharing their "common pains," which they attribute to U.S. "imperialist" policies.

Shared Struggles and Blame

"We share common pains. The issue of emigration is very painful for both Cuba and Venezuela. It's been used as a strategy to uproot us, to break families, to push us to the edge, making scarcity and poverty tools of warfare. It's brutal. I don't know how the modern world, in the 21st century, can allow something like this," Rojas expressed during the interview.

The politically charged singer claimed that the United States continues to "use economic measures to kill a nation, deindustrialize it, and suffocate it, hoping the people will rebel."

Controversial Perspectives

Rojas continued, "Not against their leaders, but to rebel in favor of those working hardest to develop it. So that the same people, confused and without identity, end up embracing those causing them the most harm, and their brightest minds are misled. That's horrible!" The musician's incoherent rhetoric was accompanied by dramatic gestures.

Beyond the slip or absurdity of “rebelling in favor of those working hardest to develop it,” Rojas' concern for the "confusion" of the people led him to elaborate on what he perceives as the underlying logic of U.S. imperialism.

Critique of Imperialism

"It's such an imperialist and egocentric discourse that all the beautiful things they talk about—progressivism and democracy—are just for them. Not for you; for you, it's about harvesting sweet potatoes, cultivating tomatoes, giving me your resources," explained the privileged author of "Catalejo," who doesn’t toil for the "empire's" overseers or harvest sweet potatoes for the "landlords."

Recognizing the alignment between Rojas and Alvarado, the Cuban regime's songwriter wasn't about to leave the topic without an additional verse to his biased worldview. He called for global harmony with an image befitting a communist pioneer, reminiscent of indoctrinated teachings sung at morning assemblies.

Recalling his happy times, when he kissed the red scarf and sang "La Rueda" by Digna Guerra (a syrupy pamphlet proclaiming “all the children of the world, let’s make a circle”), Rojas concluded by stating, “I want everyone to walk hand in hand” and continued denouncing U.S. imperialism with the same innocence of a child in red shorts, enthusiastically declaring slogans to the few loyal followers of La Iguana.

Israel Rojas: Controversial Figure and Regime Advocate

Israel Rojas, leader and vocalist of Buena Fe, founded the group in 1999 with Yoel Martínez in Guantánamo province. Beyond music, his career has not been free from controversy.

In May 2023, he denied the existence of political prisoners in Cuba, claiming, “As far as I know, there aren’t any.” These statements drew sharp criticism, particularly from families of those detained during the July 11, 2021, protests, who accused him of apparent insensitivity and complicity with the Cuban regime.

In September 2023, several Buena Fe concerts in Spain were canceled amid a tense political climate. Although no official reasons were provided, it was speculated that the cancellations were connected to Rojas' support for the Cuban government and protests from exiled groups opposing his presence.

In April 2024, the musician was again at the center of controversy after photos were leaked showing him with Cuban regime spokesperson and TV presenter Humberto López, enjoying a party hosted by ousted Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández.

“We must aim for intelligence, aim for love, this is won with love,” Rojas said in a 2020 interview with the official media Escambray.

A street vendor of "love for the revolution and its leaders," Rojas does not hesitate to label Cuban activists for change as "digital misfits," disparage independent civil society, and charge 3,000 pesos per person for a Christmas dinner concert in a country where the regime has set the minimum wage at 2,100 Cuban pesos.