SOFIA (Reuters) – Yordanka Hristova used to be entitled “brand new bride to be of all the Cubans” and is popular for the Fidel escort babylon Concord CA Castro’s isle you to Cuban group entitled its girl after the girl.
Forty years on the, the brand new 64-year-dated Bulgarian pop music diva features the latest gossips speculating in the the girl relationships on the vanguard symbol themselves, saying all of that issues is actually this lady fascination with Cuba and her appreciation because of its frontrunner into the gorgeous brownish vision.
The latest artist was delivered to Castro during their visit to communist-governed Bulgaria during the 1972 and you will fell for just what she named his macho charm. The guy applauded the girl on her a great Spanish rather than the girl seems, she appreciated.
Dismayed because of the failure off ties ranging from Havana and you can Sofia after the conclusion communist code from inside the eastern European countries in 1989, Hristova has actually aided create a charity to replace cultural hyperlinks, titled once Cuba’s federal hero, Jose Marti.
Marti, a poet and you may writer, died inside a cavalry charges when you look at the 1895 regarding combat Spanish colonial rule. Hristova states his lifestyle reflected that Bulgaria’s very own vanguard character Hristo Botev, including a good poet, whom died for the an uprising against Ottoman signal in the 1876.
The origin have erected a sculpture off Marti to your a small rectangular within the Sofia that will be pressing this new capital’s elizabeth brand new rectangular following the fighter for Cuban versatility.
Throughout the communist era in the forty,100000 Bulgarians did inside Cuba, mostly because engineers and you may agriculture advantages. The Balkan country shipped chemical substances, machines, wines and you can canned dinner to help you Cuba and you can brought in the Caribbean island’s glucose and you will citric acid fruit.
Bulgarians have fond memories away from Cuban bananas and oranges, hence hit their shop within the cold weather and you will was in fact very popular it must be rationed.
Bulgarian pop music diva provides flames burning to have Castro
These days exchange try negligible and cultural ties has actually faded out, far in order to Hristova’s dissatisfaction. “The brand new Cubans cherished us really. They experienced us family unit members and you will accustomed claim that we were the brand new Latin People in the us of Europe. ”
Hristova basic sang in the Havana from inside the 1967, when Castro had accepted Soviet-style communism while the Beatles or any other “decadent” West material organizations was basically blocked.
“It was mutual like initially to the Cuban listeners. That is most likely as to the reasons they become naming kid ladies after me.”
Love of LATIN Flow
Along with her love of Latin rhythms and you can dances, Hristova generated a good splash on Varadero Song Event when you look at the 1967 features performed during the Cuba almost every 12 months while the, will passageway winter months indeed there.
Of all Soviet bloc singers just who toured its country, Hristova obtained the brand new warmest reception, the lady open manner earning the girl the fresh affectionate name away from “fiance of the many Cubans”, her repertoire along with Cuban, Italian, French and you may English music.
Hristova’s very own respect to help you Castro and his socialist vision is actually unswerving. “We ribbon right down to Fidel, so you’re able to someone who has actually loyal their lifestyle so you’re able to a reason — Cuba’s freedom,” she told you.
“All this is at the expense of the fresh new Cubans and you can major shortages. However they thought it’s significant. That assists them to become a religious instead of a buyers, material area.”
Asked whether or not Castro are a partner, she told you: “He or she is perhaps not a musical aficionado and an excellent bohemian. The guy does not wish to dancing, in the place of his sis (Raul) who is an even more regular Cuban.
“The newest Cubans like to have some fun, that they like songs. He could be different, he is an emotional, the guy likes to discover.”
“She try quite naughty together with enough Latin beat, specifically as compared to Russian singers,” told you computer technician Guillermo Orosa.
The latest musician, good widow with several pupils whom speaks at the very least five languages which will be nevertheless a superstar in the home, admitted her seems starred an essential part when you look at the successful Cubans’ minds.
“The latest Cuban males hate skinny girls, they prefer him or her plump,” Hristova says. “I am you to particular — so much more stylish, plump, and i also are quite popular,” said the latest musician, whom likes shawls, limits and you will bright red lipstick.
Hristova attended Castro’s 80th birthday festivals for the Havana during the 2006, but a few months after he had crisis operations having a keen undisclosed tummy problems.
She daily receives their site regarding the Cuban embassy in Sofia and you can periodically sends your telegrams, finalized “the friend, Yordanka Hristova”.