A Cuban content creator living in Italy has sparked a wave of nostalgia among Cubans abroad with a unique challenge: identifying five instrumental themes from Cuban television, ranked by difficulty.
Yannys Herrera, known on Instagram as @yannys_real, shared the challenge in a reel that includes themes from shows such as Para la Vida, Mediodía en TV, Día y Noche, and Escriba y Lea.
One of the recognizable tracks in the challenge is the distinctive jingle of the ICRT Educational Channel, accompanied by its signature phrase: "The educational channel resumes its broadcasts, thank you for your company." For many Cubans, this tune is a reminder of educational programs and afternoons spent watching TV.
"These are the five instrumentals every Cuban should recognize. Level 5 is going to be the toughest. The first one was a piece of cake, right?" Herrera jokes in the video, using a Cuban colloquialism to describe something easy to guess.
With humor, Herrera warns, "I don't want tears in the comments," predicting the wave of nostalgia the video would unleash.
The comments section quickly filled with Cubans reminiscing about their childhood on the island, a common reaction among the diaspora when such content circulates.
"With the 'Para la Vida' theme, I closed my eyes and imagined myself on my grandmother's wooden sofa watching TV," shared one follower.
Another commented, "The second reminds me of having lunch with rice and peas at 95 degrees, watching Mediodía en TV."
"Am I the only one who feels immense nostalgia for these shows? I used to watch Escriba y Lea with my grandma, and I miss her so much," expressed a third commenter.
Television Memories: A Nostalgic Journey
For decades, Cuban state television, managed by the ICRT, was the sole visual medium for the island's population. Its musical themes and children's programs left a lasting imprint on the memories of multiple generations.
Among the most cherished by the diaspora are the melodies of La Calabacita—on Cuban screens since 1973—Toqui, El Pequeño Vagabundo, and the adventure series Dos Hermanos.
Herrera's challenge is part of a growing trend among Cubans in the diaspora: content that evokes shared television references tends to generate a much higher emotional response than other types of posts.
In March of this year, a video of Norma Reina, known as "Marcolina," dancing with her daughter also sparked a similar wave of reactions among Cubans living abroad.
Aside from being a digital creator, Herrera is the founder of the clothing brand Rytt Dustin and has a history of viral videos exploring Cuban identity and life in Europe.
The hashtag #cubanosporelmundo used in the reel targets that global audience, who, upon hearing just a few notes from their childhood TV shows, can't help but react.
Understanding Cuban TV Nostalgia
Why are Cuban TV themes so nostalgic for the diaspora?
Cuban TV themes are nostalgic for the diaspora because they represent a shared cultural experience and remind them of childhood memories and family moments on the island.
What role did the ICRT play in Cuban television?
The ICRT managed Cuban state television and was the primary audiovisual source for the island's population for decades, imprinting generations with its musical themes and programming.