Havana, Cuba. - There must be few reasons that unite people more than those related to the sonority art. It is not hard to verify the aforesaid when visiting Cuban writer Rosa Marquetti’s blog Desmemoriados.
The passion of this philologist by profession has strong roots in her ancestry. She has declared that as niece of the internationally famed bolero composer Luis Marquetti, there were always stories about the wonderful world of show business at home.
But her work for decades, as expert on Cuban intellectual property, has kept her abreast of incredible details. That is how she understood one day that it was essential to show the world more than one thread of the rhythms, authors, singers and events that make up the vast Cuban musical heritage.
Cuban writer Rosa Marquetti has given the readers in the green alligator a small sample of what is exposed in her interactive Internet space. After five years of her blog, Ojala publishing house released the volume Desmemoriados, disclosing anecdotes of nearly forgotten artists, as well as very curious facts of great stars of Cuban music.
Talking to Radio Cadena Habana, she said that the text on the subject was first published in Colombia in 2016, with 16 articles. The volume that saw the light in Cuba last February, during the XXVIII Havana International Book Fair, includes six of those stories and 14 new ones.
Rosa, why the title of the blog and the book?
“Look, it's a pun that someone may find misused. I refer to forgotten, overlooked people and I should have used the term Olvidados (Forgotten). But I didn’t. They are not forgetful; we are the ones who fail to remember them. I did not want to refer to music stars, I sought the almost insignificant. Through this blog, I have got the rapprochement of people from different countries that collaborate and provide information. Now, we make up a big family. The text on Chano Pozo’s life also emerged. Rest assured that if there is something that is not lacking, it is respect for the most dissimilar opinions, always advocating my condition as a Cuban living on this Island.”
You told me that this book has brought you great satisfaction and many people to thank
“Just imagine that the idea of making it was Silvio Rodriguez’s. One day, he was commenting on one of my reviews and suggested making a printed publication at the “Ojala” studios that he runs. I had the greatest collaboration from its whole staff. I especially appreciate the eagerness and thoroughness of every one of them. It has been a dream come true for Cubans who, for different reasons, have no access to Internet. Now they can get to know these stories. The foreword was written by intellectual, poet and music connoisseur Sigfredo Ariel, for which I am also very glad.”
The blog continues to publish the outcome of new research work and what about you? Are you planning any other printed or digital book?
“Let me tell you that I have enough material to write the second volume of “Desmemoriados.” On the other hand, I am giving the final touches to a book on Niño Rivera, whose centennial is this April. Nowadays, I am currently doing my very best to extol the forgotten figure of that great Cuban musician.”
You told me that young people are increasingly joining the family of the blog Desmemoriados
“That is something that gives me enough strength to carry on with this work. I recently received a message from a young Cuban female journalist, who lives in New York. She had read the book on Chano Pozo and loved it. Much to my delight, she told me that reading the book took her to the studios where the first rumba with Abakuá lyrics was recorded. She also confessed that her time in Harlem made her relive the developments described in my work, as well as her stroll along Prado. She definitely encouraged me to say that without the scenes depicted in these pages those places would only be lifeless cement.”
Talking to writer Rosa Marquetti was a pleasure and an honor for Radio Cadena Habana, which she kindly returned in the midst of a very tight agenda. However, she acknowledged that this radio station is always aware of her works and our work in favor of Cuban music and musicians, wherever they may be, is indispensable.
Translated by Pedro A. Fanego
