Women in Music

The Ella y Yo (She and I) Gathering of Female Singers has, since its inception, served as a platform to highlight the role of women in Cuban musical culture. Sponsored by the National Center for Popular Music and the Cuban Institute of Music, the festival’s eighth edition paid tribute to composer Marta Valdés and singer-songwriter Eduardo Sosa.

The event brought together female voices from across Cuba and from various countries worldwide. Among the international guests, the voice of Rocío Robledo—member of the Paraguayan trio Las Conchas sin mar—resonated with a conviction as distinctive as her music: a blend of electropop and folk, with seven years of experience and on the verge of releasing their first album.

For Robledo, the festival represents much more than an artistic performance; it is the realization of a cultural bridge. “From Paraguay we receive very distant news about Cuba, but being here allows us to connect deeply with the culture that permeates Havana,” she told Granma, visibly moved. This was her second visit to the Island, but the first alongside her complete trio—an opportunity she described as an honor.

Reflecting on the female empowerment promoted by Ella y Yo, Robledo pointed to the lack of visibility for women in music. “In Paraguay it is like this, and in almost all of Latin America,” she noted, adding, “in any festival, there are always more men across all lineups. And that has nothing to do with talent, but with the lack of opportunities.”

For the artist, the root of the problem lies in the unequal distribution of social roles: “Women take on so many responsibilities, with caregiving tasks and the domestic sphere, that sometimes we cannot dedicate ourselves to our musical careers in the same way men can.” She also explained that initiatives like Ella y Yo serve as an essential counterbalance, placing women’s talent at the forefront.

“I believe there must be festivals that demand, that prioritize women’s projects, because otherwise they always get filled with men. And what we want is equality,” she emphasized, expressing hope that more women will join the music scene—and be able to remain in it.