SOFIA (Reuters) — Yordanka Hristova used to be titled “the bride-to-be of all of the Cubans” and is actually very popular on Fidel Castro’s isle that Cuban parents called the daughters immediately after her.
Forty years towards, brand new 64-year-old Bulgarian pop music diva possess the latest gossips guessing throughout the her dating towards leading edge icon himself, saying all that matters was her fascination with Cuba along with her like for its leader towards the breathtaking brown eyes.
New singer was put to Castro through the his visit to communist-governed Bulgaria during the 1972 and you will fell for just what she called their manly charm. He praised this lady on her behalf an excellent Language rather than their appears, she remembered.
Dismayed of the failure away from links ranging from Havana and you may Sofia immediately after the end of communist code inside the eastern Europe when you look at the 1989, Hristova possess helped build a foundation to bring back social website links, called immediately following Cuba’s national hero, Jose Marti.
Marti, a poet and you may copywriter, died inside an excellent cavalry charges into the 1895 throughout the combat Spanish colonial signal. Hristova claims their existence shown compared to Bulgaria’s own leading edge champion Hristo Botev, in addition to a great poet, who died in an enthusiastic uprising against Ottoman rule during the 1876.
The foundation keeps erected a sculpture regarding Marti for the a tiny rectangular into the Sofia which is driving the capital’s elizabeth the rectangular following fighter having Cuban freedom.
About communist day and age in the forty,100000 Bulgarians did when you look at the Cuba, generally because engineers and agriculture gurus. This new Balkan country exported chemical substances, machinery, drink and you may processed food so you can Cuba and imported new Caribbean island’s glucose and you will citric fruit.
Bulgarians continue to have happy memories regarding Cuban apples and apples, which attained the storage into the wintertime and you may was in fact popular it must be rationed.
Bulgarian pop diva have flame burning getting Castro
Nowadays exchange try negligible and you can cultural connections provides faded out, much to Hristova’s frustration. “The Cubans appreciated you greatly. They noticed you loved ones and used to claim that we were brand new Latin People in america out-of European countries. ”
Hristova basic carried out when you look at the Havana from inside the 1967, whenever Castro got welcomed Soviet-layout communism and the Beatles or any other “decadent” West material organizations was basically banned.
“It was shared love at first to the Cuban audience. Which is probably as to the reasons they started naming baby girls just after me.”
Love of LATIN Beat
Together with her passion for Latin rhythms and you will dances, Hristova made good splash during the Varadero Tune Festival inside 1967 and it has did inside the Cuba every seasons just like the, often passing the wintertime indeed there.
Of all Soviet bloc singers exactly who toured their country, Hristova won the newest warmest lobby, their open fashion earning the lady the fresh caring label out-of “bride to be of the many Cubans”, the woman collection plus Cuban, Italian, French and you may English audio.
Hristova’s very own respect so you can Castro and his awesome socialist sight are unswerving. “We bend down seriously to Fidel, in order to someone who features devoted his existence so you’re able to an underlying cause — Cuba’s independence,” she told you.
“This was at the cost of the brand new Cubans and really serious shortages. Nevertheless they thought it’s meaningful. That helps these to be a spiritual rather than a consumer, question people.”
Expected whether Castro try an enthusiast, she said: “He’s not an audio aficionado and an effective bohemian. The guy does not wish to dancing, rather than their sibling (Raul) who is a much more normal Cuban.
“The Cubans desire to enjoy, they prefer tunes. They are more, he could be an emotional, he likes to discover.”
“She try rather slutty and had a lot of Latin beat, especially than the Russian singers,” told you computer technician Guillermo Orosa.
The newest musician, a beneficial widow having several youngsters exactly who talks at least five languages that will be still a superstar home, admitted the girl looks played an essential part in effective Cubans’ minds.
“The latest Cuban guys don’t like skinny lady, they prefer him or her plump,” Hristova claims. “I am that types of — even more stylish, fat, and i are well-accepted,” said the new singer, whom likes shawls, limits and you will scarlet lipstick.
Hristova went to Castro’s 80th birthday celebration festivals within the Havana into the 2006, just a few days just after he’d disaster procedures for an undisclosed belly issues.
She frequently receives his blog from the Cuban embassy in Sofia and you will sometimes directs him telegrams, signed “the pal, Yordanka Hristova”.