Cuban Authorities Cancel Tribute to Celia Cruz on Her 100th Birthday

The tribute organized by Teatro El Público, under the direction of Carlos Díaz, in collaboration with the Cuban Art Factory (FAC) to honor the 100th anniversary of Celia Cruz's birth (1925-2003) was abruptly canceled by the National Center for Popular Music. A brief statement from the center on Facebook announced that the theater group's performance, scheduled for Sunday the 19th, would not take place, without providing any reason or mentioning the artist being honored.

The last-minute cancellation took the organizers and participants by surprise as they had been rehearsing for days to pay homage to the Queen of Salsa. According to researcher and critic Rosa Marquetti, who shared insights on Facebook, some involved individuals received personal summonses and were given unappealable orders with warnings of potential consequences if they disobeyed.

Marquetti described the cancellation as "another chapter in the history of cultural censorship in Cuba," criticizing the use of "political commissar methods" to stifle an artistic celebration. "They've feared that voice for 60 years, terrified by its power to draw people," she wrote.

For Marquetti, Cruz represents a symbol of Cuban identity that the regime has continuously suppressed. "They've attacked her, overwhelmed her, projecting misogyny and plantation-era racism inherent in many cultural decisions and policies," she asserted, while noting that Celia Cruz stood as the world's most recognized Cuban, more beloved and acclaimed than any other.

Reactions on social media were swift. Sergio Benvenuto Solás, director of the Gibara International Low-Budget Film Festival, lamented the omission of the Queen of Salsa's name: "Couldn't they at least mention her name? Shameful," he stated.

Critic Sergio Rafael Vidal likened the act to 20th-century totalitarian tactics: "Stalin and Goebbels, wherever they are, must be proud to have such outstanding students," he commented. Hundreds of users voiced their outrage and sorrow. "How long will the censorship and disrespect continue against Cuba's greatest and most universal artist?" wrote Dianna Rosa.

Others, like Ruandi Góngora, decried the absurdity of blocking a tribute led by "highly professional Cuban artists," exclaiming, "Censorship? Seriously? What a disgrace, what a sadness! Celia lives and will live on!"

Iván García called the cancellation "an example of institutional foolishness": "Censoring Celia Cruz in the age of new technologies is senseless. Who gave the order? The Ministry of Culture or State Security?" he questioned.

Calls for transparency echoed in numerous messages demanding the Ministry of Culture explain the reasons for the cancellation. "The Social Communication Law requires full disclosure," reminded user Anyi Romera.

For many, censoring the tribute solidifies the regime's enduring fear of a figure who remains a symbol of Cuban identity and freedom over two decades after her death. As Rosa Marquetti wrote, "Celia doesn't need any government’s permission to be what she is: we, the people, need her to rebuild a country seemingly sinking without remedy."

This new act of censorship by Cuban institutions took place just hours before October 20th, Cuban Culture Day. Hundreds gathered on August 9th at Central Park's Summer Stage in New York to celebrate Celia's centenary with a concert affirming that the voice and legacy of the "Queen of Salsa" remain vibrant, even if officially ignored in Cuba.

The legendary Cuban artist, a member of the iconic orchestra La Sonora Matancera, was celebrated in April during the third edition of Billboard Latin Women in Music. The unforgettable Queen of Salsa was posthumously awarded the Legend Award in a heartfelt tribute to her extraordinary career and centennial birth anniversary.