Justo Vega

Punto (also called punto guajiro or punto cubano) is a rural, sung genre from Cuba’s western and central regions that fuses Iberian poetic song with Cuban string-accompanied dance music. At its core is the improvised or composed décima espinela (a ten‑line stanza of octosyllabic verse) delivered by a solo singer (or two in friendly duels), accompanied by bright, ringing plucked strings such as the Cuban laúd, guitar, tres, and sometimes bandurria or tiple. Growing out of Andalusian and Canary Islands song practices brought by settlers, punto became a Cuban campesino (peasant) art that later integrated Afro‑Cuban rhythmic sensibilities and performance energy. It is heard at guateques (rural gatherings), in “controversia” poet‑duels, and in stage or radio formats. Melodically strophic and often in major mode, it balances Iberian lyricism with Cuban swing, using light percussion (güiro, handclaps, foot‑stomping) and propulsive strumming or arpeggiated guajeos to support ornate, witty verse.