UN Chooses Song by Cuban Yilian Cañizares to Celebrate World Oceans Day

June 16, 2021

"Yemayá", a song by Cuban singer and violinist Yilian Cañizares was chosen by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate World Oceans Day.

"I am very happy to be able to put my music at the service of such a great cause: preserving the oceans of our beautiful planet. I hope it touches hearts," declared the singer and violinist of Cuban origin.

"I composed Yemayá (remix) especially for the United Nations World Oceans Day, last June 8th. This title is inspired by the Yoruba goddess of the sea, symbolizes Mother Earth represented by the colors blue and white: blue for the calm waters of the sea and white to illustrate the foam of the waves and the power of the ocean," she added.

Cañizares is an artist of great talent as a composer and musician. She reveals a captivating mix of musical influences such as Afro-Cuban rhythms and chants, delicious poetic and passionate songs of the trova and neosoul in Spanish. She also dazzles with jazz-rock with violin.

The Cuban resident in Switzerland says that the first time she got on stage to sing was as a child in Cuba (with the group Los Meñiques). "I will never forget the feeling I had being on stage.

Also my collaborations with Chucho Valdés and Omar Sosa; they are two artists that I love and admire very much. The first time I received a standing ovation (it was at a concert in Paris and I almost cried in front of the audience)," she said in an interview during 2020.

She confirms that the essential elements of her music are: "My Cuban roots, classical music, improvisation, rhythm, but above all love, because love is the engine of my music".

In recent years, the Cuban violinist, singer and composer has shared the stage with Ibrahim Maalouf, Omar Sosa, Youn Sun Nah, Richard Bona, Chucho Valdés, Roberto Fonseca, Dhafer Youssef, L'Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne and El Comité. Now she adds one more honor.