Alian Aramis, Creator of "Que vaya el Sandro," Leaves Cuba Amid Censorship

Cuban comedian Alian Aramis, known for the viral song "Que vaya el Sandro" that gained popularity last December, has been forced to leave Cuba due to government censorship and fear of reprisals. Aramis, along with his wife and young children, departed the island for Guyana earlier this month, as he shared on social media.

In an interview with journalist Rolando Napoles from América TeVé, Aramis recounted how his song, a satirical response to the regime's call for a combative march, became immensely popular but also resulted in adverse consequences. The song criticized the ruling class's privileges, especially Sandro Castro, highlighting the stark contrast with the poverty and scarcity endured by ordinary Cubans.

Aramis penned the lyrics, and the accompanying video featured various Cubans singing while illustrating the country's crisis with gestures: one showed an empty pot, another held up an egg with a price tag of 200 pesos, and a third counted a thick stack of Cuban currency before discarding it. The song's popularity inspired an Internet challenge among Cubans: "Que vaya el Sandro." However, this success did not sit well with authorities, who retaliated by preventing Aramis from performing, canceling his theater appearances and cultural events.

The young comedian noted that even before "Que vaya el Sandro," he was already under scrutiny by authorities due to his comedic work, which focused on criticizing the dictatorship, its foreign policy, and Miguel Díaz-Canel himself. As the pressure mounted, stifling his professional growth, and fearing harsher repercussions, Aramis, who is also a lawyer, made the decision to leave Cuba with his family.