Celebrating Cuban Culture in Dubai: Estrellas de Buena Vista Unites Latin American Nations
When Estrellas de Buena Vista y Más took the stage at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Wednesday, it felt like a homecoming in more ways than one.
For Cuban band leader Pancho Amat, the rustic swing of his tres guitar — the bright, double-stringed instrument at the heart of Cuban folk music — carries a lineage that stretches back to the ouds of medieval Andalusia. Those sounds once travelled across the Atlantic with Spanish ships, only to return centuries later through performances like this one in the Arab world.
“Performing here felt like bringing the music back to where it began,” Amat reflected from Havana before the concert. “Arab culture has contributed immensely to science, mathematics, and the arts. The tres, which I play, came from the Spanish tradition but was inherited from the Arabs. It uses double strings, like the Arab lute — Arab culture is in everything we do.”
A Living Bridge Between Generations
Formed in 2021, Estrellas de Buena Vista y Más unites original members of the Buena Vista Social Club with a new generation of Cuban musicians. Their Dubai performance featured timeless classics such as Chan Chan and Dos Gardenias alongside Amat’s original compositions — creating not just a show, but a celebration of living cultural memory.
The group’s sound embodies a lineage passed down through families, communities, and decades of tradition — from rural Cuba to Havana’s vibrant clubs, and now to global stages.
“That transmission from generation to generation preserves the authentic values of Cuban music,” Amat said. “We might call it the music of the peasants, but each generation adds its own touch, just as our ancestors did with rumba. When we perform, we play with joy, but always with humility — it’s our way of honoring those who taught us and ensuring the tradition endures.”
Echoes of the Arab World in Cuban Verse
Amat also highlighted the Arab influence embedded in Cuban lyricism and rhythm. The decima — a ten-line poetic form central to Cuban folk songs — traces its roots to Arabic poetry that travelled from Andalusia to the Caribbean.
“The vocals in Cuban folk music have a strong Arab influence,” he noted. “That way of rhyming connects directly with the Arab tradition. You can hear it in folk and dance songs like the rumba — it’s poetry and melody that came through Spain and still lives in our music today.”
Music Without Borders
On tour, Amat continues to encounter musicians around the world who unknowingly echo these shared heritages. “I’ve met young people in Finland, Germany, and Japan who play the tres,” he said. “Sometimes, they strike a melody or rhythm that feels distinctly Arab. Through Cuba, this music — born in the Arab world — keeps travelling. It’s proof of humanity’s power to build bridges. A Japanese musician can play Cuban songs, and through them, experience elements of Arab music. That’s the beauty of it.”
The performance in Dubai reminded audiences of that deep and ongoing dialogue — a resonant blend of rhythm, memory, and shared history that continues to unite cultures across time and oceans.
