Richard Zamora Brito
(El Radikal)

Richard Zamora, better known as “El Radikal,” is a Cuban rapper and musician. Since he was a child, he listened to rap, which awakened his interest in music and social critique. He is part of the Council for Racial Integration and Demóngeles, a group of critical artists, rappers, filmmakers, writers, and other independent creators from various disciplines.

Although not all his music is political, his messages always converge on themes related to his daily life. For years, and as a consequence of his music and activism, or “artivism,” Richard has suffered diverse kinds of repression and harassment, including police surveillance at his home that prevented him from attending events such as the hip-hop festival Potaje Urbano, in Colón, Matanzas, to mention just one example.

He was summoned by state security more than 20 times and expelled from his job for his dissident ideas. Shortly thereafter, his loved ones were also fired or removed from their jobs just for associating with him.

Following the July 11, 2021 (11J) protests, Richard Zamora was detained and subjected to enforced disappearance for 40 days. Authorities held him incommunicado and did not disclose his whereabouts during that time.

Radikal was released on parole at the end of August 2021. However, he had to remain on a weekly reporting scheme, correctional work, and house arrest until December 2023, when he completed his TCSI (“correctional work without internment”) sentence. He was unable to continue his work as an artist because the sanction prevented him from traveling to Havana, where the team he produced music with was based. He was forbidden to undertake any business, and if he did, he would go to prison. All this meant that he could not generate income and found himself in a precarious economic situation. 

Zamora comments that his experience of imprisonment was deplorable. While in prison, he was denied health care, medicine, water, and even slept for weeks on the floor.

Currently, Richard is not in Cuba. He felt the need to leave his country to be free and create his music without fear of reprisals, both his physical integrity and that of his family were threatened. Richard hopes to continue to work for a more just and free Cuba. As an artist, he dreams of setting up an independent studio so that he can not only raise his voice but empower and support migrant artists who, like him, have a message to share.

The Radikal leaves us with a message for all those who support Voces Presas:

“In Cuba, there are currently more than a thousand political prisoners. They are all heroes because they are sacrificing the greatest thing a human being has, their time. But at the same, there is heroism in those who are in the comfort of their homes, and even though they can turn away and ignore what is happening, they dedicate part of their lives to fight for the freedom of their imprisoned brothers. Never stop reaching out, Voces Presas, more than a campaign, is an act of extreme solidarity.”

Published on November 25, 2022 | Updated on July 23, 2024