The song that helped to energize a revolution in Cuba, “Patria y Vida,” won two awards at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas. The revolutionary jam won song of the year and best urban song.
The hit song became the revolutionary anthem in Cuba after protests began on July 11 due to the lack of government action as the country faced economic crises. The country had a shortage of food and medicine, and along with the government’s failure in handling the coronavirus pandemic, a series of protests called #SOSCuba emerged.
Hundreds of protesters were arrested and remain incarcerated in Cuba, including one of the “Patria y Vida” singers, Maykel Osorbo.
The title of “Patria y Vida” comes from a 62-year-old slogan from the Cuban revolution, “Patria o Muerte,” which means “Homeland or Death.” “Patria y Vida” means “Homeland and Life.”
“Patria y Vida” was the #SOSCuba anthem and energized the movement last summer. The song was written by exiled Cuban musicians including Alexander Delgado, Randy Malcom, Yotuel Romero and Descemer Bueno. Maykel Osboro and Eliécer “El Funky” Márquez also contributed to “Patria y Vida” and are both still in Cuba.
Osorbo has been in a Cuban jail for serial months. He is the first Cuban political prisoner to win two Latin Grammy Awards.
Exile Content Studio has partnered with the singers and songwriters of “Patria y Vida” to make the documentary. President of Content at Exile, Daniel Eilemberg, spoke on the power of the song, which landed hip-hop artist Osorbo in jail as a political prisoner.
“We at Exile believe in creating content to inspire Latin Americans to take action to create social change in the world,” said Eilemberg. “We are especially excited at the opportunity to join forces with Bea and Yotuel to produce a documentary about the tremendous power of their song in galvanizing activism to protest the appalling conditions and restrictive political policies in Cuba and the government responsible for them.”
https://twitter.com/CUBADECIDE/status/1463646050422382592?s=20
Protests also took place in major cities across the United States by Cuban-Americans to oppose sanctions imposed by Dotard Trump. The sanctions blocked people in the U.S. from sending money to families in Cuba by using U.S. banks.
The lyrics reference Cuba’s revolutionary history.
Pomp and circumstance for the five hundred (years) of Havana
While at home in the pots they no longer have food
What do we celebrate if folks are scrambling
Trading Che Guevara and Martí for currencyEverything has changed, nothing is the same
Between you and me there is an abyss
Advertising a paradise in Varadero
While mothers cry for their children who’ve gone(It’s over) you five nine, me, double twos
(It’s over) Sixty years of stalemate domino, look
(It’s over) you five nine, me, double twos
(It’s over) Sixty years of stalemate domino
The brilliant songwriters also referenced the year Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba, 1959, with the lyric “you five nine.”
You can watch the video for “Patria y Vida” below.
