On 6 March, the first concert by a US group in Cuba in over half a century of closed diplomatic relations between the two countries will take place. Major Lazer, whose motto is "Peace is the Mission", will perform live in front of the United States Embassy in Havana, reopened after 54 years. The band is led by Diplo, one of the most acclaimed and eclectic producers in pop and dance music, who has been joined since 2011 by Jillionaire, a vocalist from Trinidad and Tobago, and Miami MC Walshy Fire.

In a press release, Diplo stated:

Cuba has had a great influence on my love of music. It has an enormous cultural impact around the world and for me in particular, having grown up in Florida, it has become one of the greatest cultural centres for the evolution of music. I was lucky enough to visit Cuba with my friends Calle 13 (a Puerto Rican band and the name of a street in Havana) a few years ago for four days, during which my mind was captivated by the Cuban people, the depth of their culture and their way of life.

Major Lazer, fresh from the worldwide success of tracks such as Lean On (over a billion views on YouTube) and the very recent Be Together, will play a decisive role in fostering cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States. A process that is already under way on paper, but which in practice is moving slowly.

The trio's show, blending electronic music and dancehall to accompany uninhibited dancing, will be free for the tens of thousands of people who will fill the Tribuna Anti Imperialista José Martí. As part of the cultural exchange, Major Lazer will meet and share the stage with Cuban music students and emerging young local DJs.

The event, which promises to be historic, will be presented by the Musicabana Foundation as a preview of an international music festival, produced by US and Cuban partners, to be held in Havana from 5 to 8 May. An unprecedented cultural bridge between Cuba, the United States and the rest of the world through the power of music.