Kneecap in Cuba: "We Come From a Long Tradition of Musicians Speaking Up”

Irish hip-hop group Kneecap performed in Havana as part of the Nuestra América Convoy’s humanitarian mission. In a press conference, the Belfast trio spoke about why they made the trip, what they witnessed on the streets of Havana and the deep historical bond between Ireland and Cuba.

During the press conference, the group experienced a nationwide blackout, the third in less than a month, linked to Cuba’s weakened power grid and fuel shortages under U.S. sanctions.

The convoy brought over 20 tons of food and medicine to a country suffocating under decades of the U.S. embargo. But for Kneecap, this was never just about aid. It was about solidarity — the same solidarity that the Irish people received from around the world during their own revolutionary struggle.

Walking the streets of Havana, the band was struck by something they recognized immediately: resilience. Despite blackouts, shortages, and relentless external pressure, the Cuban people carry on, refusing to be broken.

“They're going about their lives as best they can. I think it's something we relate to,” said Rapper Móglaí Bap, a member of the group. “Even if you totally disagree with the politics of Cuba, punishing everybody in the country is never right…It's not in our nature as Irish people to witness injustice anywhere in the world and stay silent.”

TRANSCRIPT

“Cuba yes! Blockade no!” voices from the crowd chant.

“Why do you think it is important for you, as an artist with a voice and a platform, to come to Cuba and try to visibilize what is happening to Cuba right now?” asked Liz Oliva Fernández, journalist with Belly of the Beast.

“We come from a long tradition in Ireland of musicians and artists speaking up because they want to isolate Cuba, or they want to isolate Palestine and make you feel like nobody is there and make you feel like the movement is small,” said Móglaí Bap, rapper and activist from Kneecap.

“So I think us coming here and other artists hopefully raises awareness of what's actually going on,” the Irish artist added.

“And there's a blackout right now, and this is the reality,” Bap said.

“And this is collective punishment and that's not right,” he continued.

“Even if you totally disagree with the politics of Cuba, but still, punishing everybody in the country is never right,” the rapper stated.

“It wasn't right with Cuba. It wasn't not right with Palestine, is not right anywhere,” he added.

“It's not in our nature of the Irish people to witness genocide and witness injustice anywhere in the world,” said Mo Chara, rapper and activist from Kneecap.

“Doesn't matter how far,” he added.

“It's unnatural for us not to speak up,” the Irish musician said.

“What is the most inspiring thing from the Cuban people that you’ve learned during this trip?” Oliva asked.

“I think is resilience,” Mo Chara responded.

“[The U.S.] has thrown everything possible at trying to squash this island,” he said.

“They're in the middle of trying to strangle this island,” the rapper added.

“[Cubans] are resilient, they're still hopping, and they're going about their lives as best as they can,” he continued.

“We're not here to fix the Cuban people,” Chara said.

“The Cuban people know exactly how to run their country,” he added.

“This humanitarian crisis has nothing to do with Cubans not being able to run their own affairs,” the artist explained.

“This is all down to the embargo,” he stated.

“I'm not here to tell the Cuban people anything,” Chara said.

“The Cuban people know exactly how to run their own affairs,” he added.

“They know exactly who to be. I'm not here to do that,” he continued.

“We're here to provide the basic humanitarian aid that we could possibly bring with us,” the rapper said.

“It's not going to solve things. It's not the end of the issue,” he added.

“It's just the start,” he concluded.