By Maryorin Méndez | 2024-10-31

CARACAS -- A melancholic song echoes from cell phones on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela's capital, steeped in the frustration and disillusionment left by electoral fraud that has secured dictator Nicolas Maduro's rule for another six years.

"If you created men in your likeness, why do some silence the people with bullets? They cover their eyes with pure cynicism, stealing the life and dreams of a child," a voice echoes.

The song is performed by Joaquina, a rising talent in the music industry, supported by her mother, Camila Canabal.

Canabal, formerly a host on the television channel RCTV, faced the channel's closure in 2007 by then-President Hugo Chávez, which eliminated more than 3,000 jobs. She left Venezuela with her family and now resides in the United States.

The song is one of many as Venezuelans turn to music as an outlet to express their sense of betrayal over the recent election.

The country's election commission called Maduro the winner of a third consecutive six-year term, claiming he received 52% of the votes. However, it failed to publish the detailed vote count, as mandated by law.

The commission alleges that its system was hacked, and its website remains down to this day.

Meanwhile, the opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, reports different figures, claiming 70% of the votes went to its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

It has published copies of tally sheets from more than 80% of the country's voting machines on a website. The government rejects the authenticity of those tallies.

"Everyone knows what happened here," an informal vendor told Entorno in late October, referencing July 28, when Venezuelans turned out in droves to support Gonzalez Urrutia. He had the support of Machado, whom the pro-Maduro Supreme Court barred from running.

'Leave now, please'

The 2024 campaign sparked hope, with numerous musical talents inside and outside the country expressing a collective yearning for change.

Danny Ocean, a singer and composer from Caracas, has emerged in the urban genre.

Even though he has attained commercial success, he remains dedicated to championing major topics.

Just before the elections, he released the album Venequia, a heartfelt tribute to his homeland.

"Hey, who are you to dictate what I can say? How I should live?" he questions in his song. "You claim to have good intentions, but why impose conditions? Who are you to control me?"

The cover features a striking photograph of the multicolored floor of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, designed by artist Cruz Diez.

The image symbolizes the farewells experienced by countless sundered families.

One song titled "Por la pequeña Venecia" is a heartfelt plea to Maduro.

The title invokes the term "Little Venice," the literal translation of Venezuela, the name that explorer Amerigo Vespucci gave to the future country in 1499.

"You chose division over unity. Your pride overshadowed mine. I beg you to leave now, please," Ocean sings.

Ocean has urged his followers on social media to listen to his music and to engage with any public officials they know to help end the repression.

"They are the only ones who can reduce deaths and violence," he emphasizes.

Just before the elections, singer Nacho also released a video urging the military to disobey any orders that violate the laws and citizens' rights.

In the past, he wrote politically charged songs, but he toned down his criticism to facilitate his return to Venezuela to visit family.

Caracas has jailed more than 2,000 political prisoners in just the past five months, marking the most significant wave of repression during the nearly 26 years of "Chavismo," the NGO Foro Penal found.

Songs of exile

Many also sing of the experience of exile.

Eight million Venezuelans have scattered around the world, particularly in Latin America.

Rapper Danry has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the regime.

"More than sadness, it's an overwhelming anger for the supposed victory of the scoundrel Maduro. The entire world is rising," the lyrics express.

Franco de Vita, one of the most celebrated performers in the Spanish-speaking world, has been unable to return to Venezuela to perform because of his outspoken opposition to the Maduro regime.

For 2024, he penned "Aquí no se pide nada" (Nothing is asked for here).

The song directly addresses the countries that have welcomed Venezuelan migrants, reminding them of Venezuela's past generosity in hosting countless expatriates. It underscores the enduring spirit of a nation in turmoil.

Meanwhile, the single "Veneka" by Rawayana mocks the derogatory term used by xenophobes in Latin America for Venezuelan migrants.

The track celebrates Venezuelan women's beauty and highlights their strength and resilience.

"Now we are everywhere; the whole world has fallen in love," proclaims the song, which weaves in references to local cuisine, all set to an infectious Latino rhythm.