Kings & Queens

‘PATRIA Y VIDA’ WRITER, SINGER AND TWO-TIME GRAMMY-AWARD WINNER YOTUEL ROMERO NAMED KING OF CARNAVAL MIAMI 2022

The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana has named Yotuel Romero as the official King of Carnaval Miami 2022. As part of the 2022 festivities, the Cuban-born Grammy Award-winning urban artist will perform on the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana’s Stage (located at SW 8 St. and SW 22 Ave.) during the Calle Ocho Music Festival (El Festival de la Calle Ocho) on Sunday, March 13.

“We are excited to announce Yotuel as the King of Carnaval Miami 2022 and are honored to have him perform at the Calle Ocho Music Festival,” said Alexander Perez, president of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana.  “‘Patria y Vida’ has become an anthem that has fueled a movement of expression through music and art for the Cuban people and there’s no better place than the Calle Ocho Music Festival to continue to elevate the message.”

The Cuban-born singer, artist and fashion model is a pioneer of his craft. A composer and record producer, the trend-setter, known for blending Afro-Cuban genres like rumba with hip hop, is not new on the music scene, though his hit song, “Patria y Vida” (spanish for “Homeland and Life”), which was released in February 2021, propelled his career and served as the battle cry for the #SOSCubaMovement. The instantly iconic song won Best Urban Song and Song of the Year at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the King of Carnaval Miami 2022,” said Yotuel Romero. “This festival has had a long standing tradition of recognizing the pillars of the Latin community in South Florida and to be named among fellow Cuban musical icons like Celia Cruz (1984), Gloria Estefan (1988), and Willy Chirino (1993) is truly humbling. I look forward to celebrating the return of Calle Ocho and appreciate the opportunity to further amplify the voice of the Cuban people and their plight for a free Cuba.”

Past Kings & Queens

Carnaval Miami represents culture, history, tradition, and goodwill. It is a meeting and reference point of our grandparents, parents, brothers & sisters, neighbors, generation after generation. And who could better represent these values, but the Kings & Queens of the Carnaval Miami.