NITZA VILLAPOL ANDIARENA
(1928 - 1988)
Born in New York, she settled in Havana since she was a child. She became a figure of international renown for her continuous work in searching, maintaining, and developing culinary art. She has taken...
Literature
ABELARDO ESTORINO LÓPEZ
(1925 - )
Playwright, critic, and writer of works that have gone beyond Cuban theater, he has released works such as: Las impuras (adapted from the novel by Miguel de Carrión), Las vacas gordas (a musical comed...
ALEJO CARPENTIER
(1904 - 1980)
Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist, he noticeably influenced the development of Latin-American literature, in particular through his writing style that involves all the dimensions of imaginati...
ANTÓN ARRUFAT
(1935 - )
Originally from La Habana. Excellent novelist, winner of 2000 Alejo Carpentier Prize with ‘’Con la noche del Aguafiestas’’, being acknowledged in the same year with the National Prize of Literature af...
CARILDA OLIVER LABRA
(1922 - )
Prolific poetess born in the Matanzas Province, she has always lived there. Author of numerous books of a vast popular acceptance, not just in Cuba but in tens of countries, she has served as jury mem...
CARLOS MANUEL DE CÉSPEDES Y DEL CASTILLO
(1819 - 1874)
He was born in the legendary Camagüey. He is known as the Father of the Homeland. He was the first Cuban President during the Republic on Arms. Writer and lawyer, on October 10th, 1868 he took up arms...
CINTIO VITIER BOLAÑOS
(1921 - )
He was decorated in 2002 with the José Martí National Order, the highest decoration awarded by the Council of State in Cuba. The National Literature Prize winner in 1998, he is a profound expert of Jo...
DULCE MARÍA LOYNAZ DEL CASTILLO
(1903 - 1997)
Being an exceptional poetess, she was awarded the Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra Prize (1992), in Spain and the National Literature Prize, in Cuba. She was daughter of the General of the Liberation Ar...
ELISEO JULIO DE JESÚS DE DIEGO FERNÁNDEZ-CUERVO
(1920 - 1994)
In 1928, he wrote his first short stories for children. He became one of the most important poets of the notorious Grupo Orígenes. In all his texts, the language employed is lyrical and his whole life...
EMILIO ROIG DE LEUCHSENRING
(1889 - 1964)
Great studious of our National Hero José Martí. He wrote diverse books and collaborated with diverse publications regarding to historical and political issues where he used different nicknames. He is ...
FAYAD JAMIS BERNAL
(1930 - 1988)
Famous writer and plastic artist brought to Cuba from his natal Mexico since his childhood. He performed several jobs, some of them related to plastic arts: as a painter and ceramics engraver, and mos...
FÉLIX VARELA MORALES
(1787 - 1853)
Priest and professor of the San Carlos Seminary, he is considered the founder of the Cuban nationality. He was a precursor of the struggle for independence, teacher of teachers in the branch of Philos...
FERNANDO PEREZ VALDES
(1944 - )
Licentiate in Hispanic Language and Literature by the University of Havana,movie director, and writer, he has published articles and criticisms about cinema and teaches Cinematographic Appreciation an...
IGNACIO VILLA
(1911 - 1971)
Born in Guanabacoa, he was known by his nickname: “Bola de Nieve” (snowball). His style, melody, gestures, voice tone, and way of playing the piano characterize his Cuban nature. As a singer, he showe...
JESÚS SABIO ORTA RUIZ
(1922 - )
Considered the most significant “decima” reciters of Cuban literature, he uses indistinctly the pseudonyms: Jesús Ribona, Juan Criollo, Martín de la Hoz or Indio Naborí, the latter being the one by wh...
JOSÉ MARTÍ PÉREZ
(1853 - 1895)
The Cuban National Hero, he constitutes the highest expression of dignity and commitment in achieving the independence of his country. His whole life has become a permanent example. His literary legac...
MARTA ROJAS RODRÍGUEZ
(1928 - )
Born in Santiago de Cuba, she is a journalist and was an exceptional witness of the trial in which Fidel Castro was the accused and became the accuser when he pronounced his famous allegation speech “...
MIGUEL BARNET LANZA
(1940 - )
Since very young, he was related to top figures of Cuban ethnology. Being 21 years old, he was among the founders of the Cuban Academy of Sciences. He is the most published living Cuban writer inside ...
ONELIO JORGE CARDOSO
(1914 - 1986)
Fairly renowned as our greatest story teller, he started to write since a very early age. In 1936, he won his first contest, but it was not until the 1940’s when he started to make himself a reputatio...
PABLO ARMANDO FERNÁNDEZ PÉREZ
(1930 - )
Poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and translator of Anglo-Saxon poetry, he has published tens of novels, essays, and short story books. He has delivered lectures in dozens of the most renowned uni...
REYNALDO GONZÁLEZ ZAMORA
(1940 - )
Long time novelist, essayist, poet, anthropologist, and journalist, his work conjugates several styles with exact depth, grace, and erudition characterized by his sensibility and mastery of the job. H...
ROBERTO FERNÁNDEZ RETAMAR
(1930 - )
President of the Casa de las Américas, he has been awarded the National Poetry Prize (1949-1951) and the National Literature Prize (1989). He has taken studies at La Sorbonne, Paris and the University...
TOMÁS ÁLVAREZ DE LOS RÍOS
(1920 - )
He is a journalist and writer of enormous experience, mainly in the work of cultural community extension in favor of the most genuine expressions of popular and traditional culture of the peasants and...
ZAIDA DEL RÍO CASTRO
(1954 - )
She was born in the Guadalupe Ranch, in the Villa Clara province. Since very young she started to stand out as a plastic artist and her imagination, immortalized in canvases, drew the attention of the...
Music
ADOLFO GUZMÁN GONZÁLEZ
(1920 - 1976)
He stands out as a relevant composer, piano player, and orchestra director. In 1934, when he was only 14 years old, he composes his first musical piece, the “Marina” waltz. After that he would create ...
AMADEO ROLDÁN
(1900 - 1939)
He was born in Paris, son of a Spanish father and a Cuban mother, adopting the nationality of the latter. Being only 17 years old, he enters the Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid as first violin. He arriv...
ANTONIO GUMERSINDO GARAY GARCÍA
(1867 - 1968)
Known simply as Sindo Garay, this musician from Santiago de Cuba is one of the top singers and composers in Cuban music. This man lived 101 years. Without previous academic knowledge and having the ra...
ARMANDO ROMEU
(1911 - 2002)
Deceased orchestra director, saxophone player, arranger, and composer, he is part of an outstanding family of musicians. He is considered the precursor of Jazz in Cuba and was part of several musical ...
ARTURO SANDOVAL
(1947 - )
He first stepped into music at the age of 13. Founder as a trumpet player of the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music, in 1971, and the famous band Irakere, he was soon considered a virtuous player of his ...
BARTOLOMÉ MAXIMILIANO MORÉ
(1919 - 1963)
He was born in Santa Isabel de Las Lajas, Cienguegos. Known as Benny Moré, he is, according to the musical specialist Helio Orovio: “unanimously considered one of the most genial artists produced by o...
CARLOS PUEBLA
(1917 - 1989)
Hailing from Manzanillo, in the province of Granma, this composer, guitar player and singer bears in his blood the notes of the most genuine Cuban Son. From the triumph of the Revolution, he started t...
CELIA CRUZ
(1929 - 2002)
A legendary singer, she has been dubbed the Queen of the Salsa. During her artistic life, both in Cuba and in the United States, where she established herself definitely in 1960, she recorded tens of ...
CELINA GONZÁLEZ ZAMORA
(1928 - )
She started to sing together with her husband Reutilio and later continued as a soloist singer to become the greatest interpreter of popular traditional music. She visited many Latin-American and Euro...
DÁMASO PÉREZ PRADO
(1916 - 1989)
The notable Mambo King was born in Matanzas. The creator of the well known rhythm and his most famous songs started his artistic life as pianist of a cabaret, although he also knew how to play other i...
EDUARDO RICARDO EGÜES MARTINEZ
(1923 - )
Flute player, composer, director, and musical arranger, he became part from 1953 of the famous Aragon Orchestra. There, he has left his personal style with his flute and arrangements in the sound that...
EDUARDO SABORIT
(1912 - 1963)
He was born in Campechuela, today’s eastern province of Granma. Since very young, he proved a gifted and prolific musical composer reflecting a deep “cubanhood” in his lyrics. He is the author of very...
ELENA BURKE
(1928 - 2002)
She possessed one of the most beautiful contralto voices of Cuban music. Dubbed as “La Señora Sentimiento” (lady feeling), she debuted in 1941 as an amateur singer in a CMQ radio program and barely a ...
ENRIQUE JORRÍN OLEAGA
(1926 - 1987)
He was born in Candelaria, Pinar del Río. Musician par excellence devoted to the creation of the Cha-cha-chá in the 1950’s, he created pieces such as La engañadora (The Cheater), Silver Star, Cógele b...
ESTHER MARIA DE LA CARIDAD BORJA
(1913 - )
She was born in Santiago de Las Vegas, in Havana. She has been one of the main figures of Cuban song since her debut in 1935. Having a mezzo-soprano voice, she is considered the greatest interpreter o...
FAUSTINO ORAMAS OSORIO
(1911 - )
Known as “El Guayabero”, he has always lived in Holguin, in the northeastern section of Cuba. A minstrel for excellence, he is the author of numerous sones like Tumbaito, El Guayabero, Como vengo este...
FERNANDO BORREGO ÁLVAREZ “EL GUAJIRO NATURAL”
(1955 - 2002)
This man, who was born at the small village of El Brujito, at Sierra del Rosario, Pinar del Río made his bow at the musical world and touched the fame with his works from the late decade of the 90s in...
FRANCISCO REPILADO MUÑOZ
(1907 - 2003)
Born in Santiago de Cuba, he is recognized worldwide by the nickname of Compay Segundo. Guitar and clarinet player as well as composer, his sones, guarachas, boleros, and songs have rich Caribbean nua...
FRANK FERNÁNDEZ
(1944 - )
This virtuous composer and piano player was born in Mayari, eastern Cuba. Since the age of 4, he started piano studies until he entered the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory where he took harmony, history of...
GLORIA MARÍA FAJARDO
(1957 - )
Worldwide known as Gloria Stefan, she was born in Havana and her parents took her to the United States when she was just 16 months old. In 1975, she established contact with the Latin Boys band and st...
GONZALITO RUBALCABA
(1949 - )
Excellent jazz piano player and composer, he was impregnated since his childhood by rhythms like the rumba and the batá. So much in Cuba as in other countries, he has recorded tens of hits that have t...
IBRAHIM FERRER PLANAS
(1927 - )
Singer and founder of the Buena Vista Social Club, he was born in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba. When he was almost a child, and upon the death of his mother, he had no choice but earning his own living ...
JESÚS VALDÉS (CHUCHO VALDES)
(1941 - )
Considered the best jazz piano player in the world, he was born in the small town of Quivicán in the province of Havana. He founded the Irakere ensemble and has traveled, with his group or as a solois...
JOSÉ ANTONIO MÉNDEZ GARCÍA
(1927 - 1989)
Composer and singer, he was one of the top figures who founded the style known as “filin” (from English feeling). Among his many and unforgettable songs are worth-mentioning: La gloria eres tú, Novia ...
JUAN CLIMACO FORMELL CORTINA
(1942 - )
Composer, orchestrator, bass guitar player, and founding director of the Van Van orchestra since 1969, he has left many popular songs such as: Marilú, De mis recuerdos, Sandunguera, Chirrín chirrán, E...
JUAN LEOVIGILDO BROUWER MEZQUIDA
(1939 - )
Renowned worldwide as a great guitar player, Director General of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba, he has been since 1981 also the Director General of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Bein...
LUCIANO POZO GONZÁLEZ
(1915 - 1948)
Known as Chano Pozo, he was born in Havana and was killed in New York, where he beat the leather of his conga drums in the orchestra of his friend Dizzy Gillespie, who said about Pozo: “He was the dec...
MANUEL CORONA
(1880 - 1950)
He is one of the great of Cuban “trova”. Hailing from Caibarién, Villa Clara, he moves to Havana where he becomes a fecund composer. He achieves popularity with “Mercedes”, then other pieces would joi...
MOISES SIMONS
(1889 - 1945)
He is the author of the legendary song “El Manisero” (the peanut seller), considered among the most diffused in Cuba in the whole 20th century. He composed such piece in response to a request by his f...
OLGA GUILLOT
(1922 - )
She was brought to life in Santiago de Cuba. She is worldwide known as the Queen of Bolero. She emigrated from Cuba to Venezuela at the beginnings of the 1960’s. She was decorated in several countries...
OMARA PORTUONDO PELAEZ
(1930 - )
Hailing from Santiago de Cuba, she is an indispensable figure of Cuban song. She founded in the threshold of the 1950’s the anthological quartet “Las D’Aida”, together with Elena Burke, Moraima Secada...
PABLO MILANÉS ARIAS
(1943 - )
Composer, singer, and guitar player. He is among the undisputable founders of the movement known as “nueva trova”. He has created pieces such as: Tú mi desengaño, Estás lejos, A mis veintidós años, Pa...
PERUCHO FIGUEREDO CISNEROS
(1819 - 1870)
Author of the Cuban National Anthem, which music was performed for the first time in a religious celebration in the church of the town of San Salvador de Bayamo and later, in 1868, when the troops fig...
RITA AURELIA MONTANER FACENDA
(1900 - 1958)
Born in Guanabacoa, she is considered by many, due to her talent and versatility, as the most universal exponent among Cuban artists. She is worldwide known as “La Única” (the one and only). Rita Mont...
ROSALIA PALET BONAVIA
(1923 - )
Known as Rosita Fornés, the great vedette of Cuba, she was born in New York of Spanish parents. She is Cuban by nationalization and started her career as a singer in 1938. She also cultivates other ge...
SARA GONZÁLEZ GÓMEZ
(1951 - )
Singer and songwriter, for more than 30 years she has been one of the most notable exponents of the “nueva trova”. Together with Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, and Noel Nicola, she is an emblematic ...
SILVIO RODRÍGUEZ DOMÍNGUEZ
(1949 - )
Hailing from San Antonio de los Baños, he is among the most important figures of Cuban song of all times. He is a very prolific author having probably nearly 800 songs. Founder of the so-called “nueva...
Plastic Arts
FAYAD JAMIS BERNAL
(1930 - 1988)
Famous writer and plastic artist brought to Cuba from his natal Mexico since his childhood. He performed several jobs, some of them related to plastic arts: as a painter and ceramics engraver, and mos...
JILMA MADERA
(1915 - 2000)
Notable Pinar del Río-born writer, whose top artwork is the admired Cristo de la Habana, unveiled on December 25, 1958, defiant artwork raised over the Loma de La Cabaña, in front of Havana Bay. She m...
JOSÉ DELARRA
(1938 - 2003)
Renowned sculptor and author of works in Cuba and abroad, he designed the Ernesto Che Guevara Plaza of Santa Clara and the sculptural ensemble of the mausoleum that constitutes the burial place mythic...
ROBERTO JOSÉ FABELO PÉREZ
(1951 - )
Excellent painter and sculptor, he has studied in the National Art School and the Arts Superior Institute in Havana. He is a professor and member of juries in important national and international cont...
WILFREDO LAM CASTILLO
(1902 - 1982)
Since he was very young, he felt attracted to arts and studied at the San Alejandro Art Academy. His paintings are treasured in the most important museums of Europe, the Americas, and other continents...
Scenic Arts
ALICIA ALONSO
(1920 - )
Her name is Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad Gutiérrez del Hoyo. She was born in Havana. She has been a supreme dancer of pieces of the romantic and classical repertoires. She started dance studies in 1...
ANDY GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ
(1946 - )
Renowned movie star born in Bejucal, Havana province, he leaves Cuba in 1961. He has taken part in numerous films, the first one being “A Night in Heaven” (1983), but his first great success actually ...
ARMANDO FERNÁNDEZ SOLER “CHOLITO”
(1925 - )
He is one of the most renowned actors of theater, cinema, radio and television in Cuba. No one like him knows how to conjugate the rigor of serious roles with humorist ones. He treasures numerous deco...
ARQUÍMIDES POUS
(1891 - 1926)
He is considered as the most popular character of el negrito (little negroe) from the Cuban vernacula theater. His debut was at Actualidades Theater being 15 years. He worked integrally as writer, dir...
CANDITA BATISTA BATISTA
(1916 - )
She was born in Camagüey. Since her childhood she started to stand out as a solo singer, actress and vedette. From 1963 and for several decades uninterruptedly she has acted in radio, cinema, televisi...
CONSUELO VIDAL REGAL
(1930 - 2004)
Actress, commercial model, broadcaster, and television program and show host with a career longer than 50 years, she is undoubtedly one of the most popular actresses in Cuba. She received numerous dec...
HÉCTOR QUINTERO VIERA
(1942 - )
Awarded the National Theater Prize in 2004, he is considered among the great figures of Cuban contemporary culture. His artistic life has been defined as multifaceted since he has projected his work i...
JORGE PERUGORRIA
(1965 - )
Turned in a few years into the most prolific Cuban cinema actor, he debuted in this medium in 1993 with the film Strawberry and Chocolate, awarded motion picture directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea. He h...
JULIO GARCÍA ESPINOSA
(1930 - )
He founded the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), which he directed for eleven years. He co-directed the documentary El Mégano (1956) and has become an indispensable figure o...
LUIS MARIANO CARBONELL PULLES
(1923 - )
Renowned poetry reciter known as “the aquarellist of Antillean poetry”, he is one of his kind in declamation. For years he has been invited to be a faculty member as a professor of the musical schools...
NERIS AMELIA MARTÍNEZ SALAZAR
(1923 - )
Her artistic nickname is Juana Bacallao and she is identified as the most complete show woman of all times in Cuba. Unpredictable and versatile, this woman defies the years by going from one scenario ...
OCTAVIO CORTÁZAR JIMÉNEZ
(1935 - )
Outstanding cinematographic documentary maker, his work include the short film "Por primera vez" (For the First Time), considered a classic of Cuban documentary cinematography. Together with his profe...
RITA AURELIA MONTANER FACENDA
(1900 - 1958)
Born in Guanabacoa, she is considered by many, due to her talent and versatility, as the most universal exponent among Cuban artists. She is worldwide known as “La Única” (the one and only). Rita Mont...
ROSALIA PALET BONAVIA
(1923 - )
Known as Rosita Fornés, the great vedette of Cuba, she was born in New York of Spanish parents. She is Cuban by nationalization and started her career as a singer in 1938. She also cultivates other ge...
SANTIAGO ÁLVAREZ ROMÁN
(1919 - 1998)
He is one of the most outstanding filmmakers of Cuban cinema and a renowned figure at the international level. His documentary “Now” (1965), about racial discrimination in the United States, is consid...
TOMÁS ÁLVAREZ DE LOS RÍOS
(1920 - )
He is a journalist and writer of enormous experience, mainly in the work of cultural community extension in favor of the most genuine expressions of popular and traditional culture of the peasants and...
Visual Arts
ALBERTO DIAZ GUTIÉRREZ (Korda)
(1928 - 1921)
Born in the Cuban capital, he is the author of the most famous picture of Che Guevara, taken by his objective during the burial of the victims of the explosion of the ship La Coubre, in March 1960. Th...
OCTAVIO CORTÁZAR JIMÉNEZ
(1935 - )
Outstanding cinematographic documentary maker, his work include the short film "Por primera vez" (For the First Time), considered a classic of Cuban documentary cinematography. Together with his profe...
