LAS KRUDAS
Las Krudas <http://www.krudas.org/> is a Cuban hip hop duo, an interracial couple of HOT, HOT, HOT lesbians Odaymara Cuesta and Olivia Prendes. Their feminist lyrics and performance battles machismo and celebrates the power and beauty of women of color.
In “Vamo’ a vencer la dificultad,” the track that opens their CD Cubensi, <http://oreja.trovacub.com/boletin01.html#_Cubensi> Las Krudas repeat:
| Sexo femenino, siempre relegado
pero las Krudas el molde han quebrado vamo’ a vencer la dificultad. . . . |
Women, always the second class
But Las Krudas have broken the mold Let’s vanquish the obstruction. . . . |
In “Eres bella,” from the same CD, they apostrophize
| Eres bella siendo tú, ébano en flor, negra luz
Eres bella siendo tú, cuerpo no es única virtud. Eres bella siendo tú, ébano en flor, negra luz Eres bella siendo tú, inteligencia es tu virtud. |
You are beautiful being you, ebony in flower, black light
You are beautiful being you, the body isn’t the only virtue. You are beautiful being you, ebony in flower, black light You are beautiful being you, intelligence is your virtue. |
Interested? Listen to Las Krudas’ new songs (MP3 files): “Metia,” “No somos iguales,” and “Nuestra cueva.” And check out their music video (MOV): “Kandela.” <http://parisvideoweb.com/video/kandela.mov>
An all-female crew from Cuba, Argentina, France, and Wales are now making a documentary film about Las Krudas. The crew lived and worked in Havana while shooting the documentary. Upon completion, the film will be subtitled in French and English, to be broadcast in Europe and English-speaking. It is sure to challenge the myth that the Cuban Revolution has not changed and that there is still no space for queers in Cuba.
The filmmakers, however, are having trouble obtaining funding to complete the film. If you can suggest any institution or individual they can approach to seek funding, please contact Sandra Boero-Imwinkelried at <atibullus@yahoo.com>.
Antonino D’Ambrosio is a writer and filmmaker based in New York. His writing appears in many media outlets including Monthly Review, The Nation, ColorLines, and The Progressive. He is the author most recently of Let Fury Have the Hour: The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer. His next book is Politics in the Drums. D’Ambrosio is currently working on a documentary project with Tim Robbins on music and politics. He is also currently Artist-In-Residence at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. As founder of La Lutta NMC (www.lalutta.org), D’Ambrosio is the producer/director of many documentaries. In the Land of Bolivar is scheduled for release in Fall 2006.
