"Nature is for us to experience and enjoy," renowned Cuban troubadour Compay Segundo told Tierramérica. With his 95 years of experience, he says that we must take care of the planet.

HAVANA - Francisco Repilado, 95, better known as Compay Segundo, boasts with a twinkle in his eye that he is "the oldest active musician in the world" and the one who has sold most albums… after reaching age 90.

Much of Segundo's life has taken place between the tobacco factories and the world of music. His rise to international fame did not occur until 1997, when he took part in the album "Buena Vista Social Club", a project led by U.S. guitarist Ry Cooder, who rescued a group of traditional Cuban music veterans from the world's oblivion.

Since then, Segundo, the composer of "Chan-Chan", seems always to be on the go. Wherever he is, he can be found wearing his trademark hat, a cigar in hand, and spreading his message: "souls, not weapons" (almas, no armas).

Q: What kind of world are we, those of us who have enjoyed "the flowers of life", going to leave to those who have not yet lived?

A: Nature is for us to experience and enjoy, as I have done. I am 95 years old and have never had any setbacks in my life. I have had a happy life. But I believe that we are a bit careless with the world. The planet is for everyone, and we must take care of it. If we continue to mistreat nature, one day, nobody there will be nobody left.

Q: You have said on many occasions that you are a musician, not a politician. You have also stated that you are worried about the contamination of water sources, desertification and global warming. Have you ever written an environmental song?

A: My second-to-last song was about nature, human nature. I advise against making love while drunk, because the child may also turn out drunk. [He laughs.] But the truth is that we all live in nature and we should take care of it, and not poison our water.

Q: A traditional Cuban song says, "to Manzanillo Bay I go to look for the moon…" Are such romantic songs written anymore? Songs that talk about the moon, the sun, the mountain?

A: No.

Q: You are known as an avid cigar smoker. You have smoked since you were a boy, and you continue smoking every day. Have you ever considered that all that smoke might be polluting the air?

A: What really contaminates the environment are atomic bombs.

Q: This year, when you celebrated the 80 years of your artistic career, you debuted your first work of theater, "Se secó el arroyito" (The Stream Has Dried Up) Were you referring to any stream in particular?

A: Yes, the stream of love. It means that love has ended.

* Dalia Acosta is an IPS correspondent.