Hundreds Honor Celia Cruz in Mass After Cancelled Tribute in Cuba

Hundreds gathered in Havana on October 17, 2023, for a Mass commemorating the 100th anniversary of Celia Cruz’s birth. This event took place just days after Cuban authorities abruptly canceled a tribute performance dedicated to the iconic salsa singer, an action that has been met with criticism and accusations of censorship.

The Mass was held at the Basilica of La Caridad in the Centro Habana neighborhood, where attendees celebrated the legacy of Cruz, often referred to as the “Queen of Salsa.” Father Ariel Suárez, who led the service, praised Cruz as an ambassador of Cuban music and culture. He remarked, “She was an ambassador of Cuban music, of Cuban rhythms in the world… of our flavor, of our dances, of our joy, of ‘that’ contagious thing.”

Notable figures joined the congregation, including Mike Hammer, the United States Charge d’Affaires in Cuba. Hammer expressed his gratitude for Cruz’s contributions to music and her desire for freedom for all Cubans. “Her songs give hope and joy, but she also wanted freedom for all the Cuban people, which is something we all desire,” he stated after the service. The absence of government officials or representatives from the Ministry of Culture at the Mass fueled speculation regarding the state’s stance on Cruz’s legacy.

Born in Havana on October 21, 1925, Cruz rose to fame as a vocalist in Cuba before going into exile in 1960 due to political tensions. She became a prominent figure in the United States, particularly among the Cuban exile community, which opposed the regime of Fidel Castro. Cruz passed away in 2003, having never returned to her homeland, although she did perform at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo in 1990.

In a notable turn of events, the theater group El Público planned a tribute performance at the prestigious Cuban Art Factory for October 15, 2023. Just hours before the scheduled event, the state-run National Center for Popular Music announced on social media that the performance would be canceled, without providing any reasoning.

The Cuban Art Factory responded by posting a photo of an empty chair illuminated by spotlights, a poignant representation of the tribute that never occurred. The accompanying message read, “A work of art that never was, a chair, silence, and the art of resistance. Celia Lives.” This visual statement resonated deeply with artists and musicologists, who took to social media to decry the cancellation as an arbitrary act of censorship.

Musicologist Rosa Marquetti characterized the prohibition of the tribute as a significant example of political censorship within Cuban culture. She noted that despite attempts by the government over the past six decades to diminish Cruz’s legacy, her influence remains strong. “They have spent 60 years trying — without success — to tarnish one of the most extraordinary trajectories of life in the cultural sphere in defense of an identity,” Marquetti wrote.

The celebration of Celia Cruz’s life and music continues to resonate globally, with events honoring her legacy planned in various countries. As Cuba reflects on the impact of one of its most beloved artists, the challenges of artistic expression in the country remain a focal point of discussion. The Mass not only honored Cruz’s contributions but also underscored the ongoing struggles faced by artists in Cuba today.