HAVANA (Reuters) – Cubans were expected to fill Havana’s massive Revolution Square on Sunday for a concert by Colombian singer Juanes and a lineup of top Spanish-language musicians who hope art can do what politics has not — bring together Cubans here and in the United States.
The much-hyped event will be beamed live to an international television audience, including viewers in Miami, the heart of the Cuban exile community and center of opposition to Cuba’s communist-led government.
Television viewers will see an expected half million people, who are being urged to wear white as a symbol of peace, listening to music in the square where the man Miami loves to hate, Fidel Castro, once spoke to huge rallies.
Pope John Paul II held a mass in the square in 1998, drawing 850,000 people.
On Sunday morning, several hundred young people, organized by the Union of Young Communists, were at the site preparing to work security or staff food booths, undaunted by the prospect of a long day in the hot sun.
“Are you kidding? I’m thrilled and can’t wait to see Juanes and the others,” Antonio Perez said, dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans, sneakers and a cap.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, well worth sweating for.”
Joining Juanes will be 14 singers and bands from six countries, among them Miguel Bose of Spain, Olga Tanon from Puerto Rico, Jovanotti from Italy and Los Van Van from Cuba.
Juanes, winner of 17 Grammy awards, has said his “Peace Without Borders” concert is not about politics, but reconciliation. He believes U.S. President Barack Obama has “opened the door” to change by taking steps to improve U.S.-Cuba relations.
“This concert is one little grain of sand more in the process of improving relations through art,” Juanes, 37, said upon arrival in Havana this weekend. “It is a gesture of peace, a way of weaving bonds of union.”
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