Communist Music
The U.S. blockade policy towards Cuba is about to be put to the test. And not from cuban cigars or good rum, but from music. Puerto Rico has been named a guest territory for the Cubadisco Music Fair in Havana. The music fair is to take place in May of 2009. The only problems is that Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States, so technically, no Cuban musicians should be able to ‘export’ their music to U.S.A. territory.
The U.S. blockade against Castro’s Cuba was initiated on February 7, 1962. The blockade covers trade between the U.S. and Cuba as well as cultural exchanges. Therefore, U.S. officials make it difficult for Cuban’s to perform or visit U.S. territory by not offering a visa. So, I guess the big test will come when Cuban fair organizers and musicians apply for their visas in order to perform in Puerto Rico.
Would it be so bad for the U.S. to allow cultural exchanges? I have blogged before about the U.S. government’s role in sending U.S. jazz musicians to closed countries in the 60′s & 70′s as part of a cultural exchange. The NY Philharmonic recently performed in North Korea. Music has the power to transcend political & cultural differences. Perhaps some money goes back and forth, thus disrupting the precious blockade, but more important cultural impact would be occurring between the countries.
I will keep an eye on developments of this story.
Stay tuned,
Erik
erikrostad.com 
There was some controversy bringing the musicians of Buena Vista Social Club and Afro-Cuban All Stars over for the 1st annual Latin Grammies to perform. Further, Cuban music seems to the most potent influence in modern Latin music. For the last several years, Cuban hip-hop has been brewing and ocassionally spilling over. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
Cuban artists have played in Puerto Rico including Los Van Van to a sold out crowd. Puerto Rican artists, mostly those who defend Puerto Rican independence, have played many times in Cuba where Puerto Rico has an unofficial embassy in Havana. These artists include Danny Rivera, Lucecita, Silverio among many others. There is an official and unofficial cultural exchange between Puerto Rico and Cuba, which are sister islands.