Synopsis

Celia Cruz opens the video by performing the familiar Cuban refrain before the story shifts to Wyclef Jean behind bars. As he recalls his past, the clip moves between prison scenes, street life, and performances with Lauryn Hill and other members of the Refugee Camp. After his release, Wyclef heads into Spanish Harlem, where he pursues the woman identified as the Guantanamera. The narrative eventually reaches a colorful carnival setting, turning the song's blend of longing, celebration, and cultural identity into a lively urban fantasy.

Factoids & Trivia

• The song appeared on Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars, released on June 24, 1997.

• Although Celia Cruz is prominently featured, the track is not simply a conventional cover. Wyclef and Jerry "Te Bass" Duplessis reshaped the traditional song with new English rap verses, additional music, and a contemporary hip-hop arrangement.

• Lauryn Hill contributes vocals and appears in the video, while Jeni Fujita also sings on the recorded version. Pras is among the Refugee Camp figures seen in the clip.

• The recording was made in Haiti and mixed at Chung King Studios in New York City, reinforcing the song's movement between Caribbean and New York musical worlds.

• The production incorporates Celia Cruz's "Guantanamera" recording, while Cruz also re-recorded vocals for Wyclef's version.

• The video presents the prison sequence as part of the broader storytelling framework surrounding The Carnival, an album built around theatrical interludes and Wyclef's deliberately cinematic persona.

• "Guantanamera" received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.

• The song draws on a Cuban standard associated with Joseito Fernandez and lyrics based on the poetry of Jose Marti, while Wyclef's version adds Haitian, African American, and New York hip-hop perspectives.