Venezuelan band Rawayana announced on Tuesday night (December 3rd) that their tour planned for this month in Venezuela has been cancelled, two days after President Nicolas Maduro criticized their recent hit “Veneka” as an insult to its women Venezuela.
The announcement also comes months after the trippy-pop group openly expressed its stance against the Maduro government following the disputed July 28 presidential election.
“Our Venezuela tour has been CANCELED”, Rawayana he wrote in a post on Instagramexplaining that “this is how we say goodbye to our country until further notice. Our music is not made to separate.” The band also thanked their followers and asked them to be on the lookout for the refund.
“Someday we will be together again. Now watch us conquer the world!' added the band, which just last month won its first Latin Grammy, for best pop song for “Feriado” and received a Grammy nomination for best Latin rock or alternative album for ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas?
Rawayana's canceled concerts in Venezuela were scheduled for December 13-29 and included dates in Caracas, Mérida, San Cristóbal, Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Lechería and Margarita Island.
It was not clear if the group canceled the tour or if it was the government. “For security issues and the protection of our allies, I don't want to make any statements,” Rawayana singer Alberto “Beto” Montenegro said. Billboard Español Wednesday (December 4). “What is obvious does not require much explanation.”
On Sunday (December 1), during a speech at an event called Toma de Caracas, Maduro has been heavily criticized Rawayana song “Veneca”, which has given a positive tone to a term considered pejorative. The song has also become a viral hit on social media since its release in October. “Venezuelan women are called dignity, respect and they are called Venezuelans, they are not venecasMaduro said. “The group that made this song as offensive, as derogatory, as horrible as 'Veneka' screwed up.”
In July, when Venezuela's electoral authority declared Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the vote (although it has not shown the documents supporting the results), the opposition alleged irregularities in the count and claimed that its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez , had won nearly 70% of the vote, Rawayana was among the many Venezuelan artists in exile who reacted to the political situation in the country.
“Venezuela has been living a big fraud for many years … an ideological, moral and ethical fraud,” Montenegro said Bulletin board at that time. “Unfortunately we are not surprised by another electoral fraud, we have already seen it all.”
Rawayana's Tuesday night post — which, in addition to the brief statement, also includes photos from the band's early days in Venezuela, the Latin Grammy red carpet and a massive concert — drew dozens of reactions from big names in entertainment, media information and politics.
“There will be a new announcement soon. To Freedom!!!” Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been under protection since August due to threats against her integrity, wrote in the comments section.
Danny Ocean, Elena Rose and Mau y Ricky — who appeared on the October cover Billboard EspañolMusic from Exile: Venezuelan Voices Find Purpose in the Fight for Their Country — also responded to their countrymen's announcement.
“Soon you'll sing and we'll all go be there with you,” Danny said.
“There is no darkness that can stop the love we want to give to our country. We will be back soon. For now in faith, we carry on,” wrote Elena Rose.
Mau and Ricky, who had planned to share the stage with Rawayana for their first hometown show, wrote: “We had the illusion of going there to sing with you for the first time there. Our dream will come true!!!! Sending hugs.”
In the United States, the band – who will receive a Grammy at the February 2 ceremony – are confirmed for Coachella 2025, which will take place on the weekends of April 11-13 and 18-20 in Indio, California.
Watch Rawayana's statement regarding the tour cancellation below:
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/rawayana-tour-canceled-venezuela-1235844566/
