Have you ever heard Cesária Évora sing?

I am a fan. She performed barefoot, as if staying rooted to the earth, and used her magical voice to tell the world about her motherland — Cabo Verde, Terra Estimada.

Every song she wrote and performed breathes sodade — that aching longing for something dear that may forever be lost.

I have never visited Cabo Verde, nor any other African country, yet somehow I relate to the sentiment: to the stories about her land, her people, her life, told so sincerely, so deeply.

Such storytelling is rare.

That is why I was astonished by Bad Bunny’s legendary Super Bowl halftime performance. 

The scenery, the atmosphere, the staging, even the order of the songs in the popurrí, transported me to Puerto Rico, a place I have also never been to. And the message was delivered powerfully through joy, unity, and love.

That is art with a purpose.
Bravery without hesitation.

Hearts full of pain, yet still able to endure life’s hardships without losing the ability to smile, dance, and celebrate being a proud Boricua.

Resisting oppression with authenticity and bittersweet joy is a strength like no other.

For thirteen minutes straight, I felt hopeful and inspired to carry on despite the weight of our broken world.

Puerto Rico, te pido que…

“No sueltes la bandera ni olvides el lelolai,
que no quiero que hagan contigo lo que le pasó a Hawái”.

#SuperBowl, #BadBunny, #PuertoRico, #HalfShow, #Boricua