Related videos:
The renowned oral poet Juana Tomasa Quiala Rojas, regarded by many as the "Queen of Repentismo in Cuba," passed away this Thursday at the age of 63, after facing health complications related to a heart condition.
“ nuestro Tromasita Quiala has passed away,” posted on Facebook the official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso.
During the month of April, the artist —blind since birth— remained hospitalized at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, in Havana, where she underwent heart surgery.
Weeks ago, she was also hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Leopoldito Martínez Hospital in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, due to a delicate condition. After several days in the hospital, she was discharged, a recovery that was even publicly celebrated by the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel on the social network X.
Born on December 29, 1961, in Banes, Holguín, Tomasita trained at the Varona Suárez school for the blind and showed natural talent for poetic improvisation from a very young age. Her mastery of the décima —a traditional form of Cuban spontaneous poetry— made her one of the most emblematic figures of the genre.
Throughout his career, he worked with the Antonio María Romeu Provincial Music Center, participated in various national and international events, and earned public recognition thanks to his frequent performances in venues such as the Palmas y Cañas program.
She was awarded the National Community Culture Prize, and her art reached stages in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Argentina, among other countries.
Beyond her recognized support for the Cuban regime —which made her an official figure in the cultural landscape— her legacy as a repentista and promoter of the Cuban rural oral tradition remains an essential part of the cultural heritage of the Island.
Frequently asked questions about the death of Tomasita Quiala, the "Queen of Improvisation in Cuba"
When did Tomasita Quiala pass away?
Tomasita Quiala passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the age of 63, after facing health complications related to a heart condition.
What was the cause of death of Tomasita Quiala?
The cause of death of Tomasita Quiala was a heart condition that complicated her health status. She had recently undergone heart surgery at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana.
What was Tomasita Quiala's legacy in Cuban culture?
Tomasita Quiala, known as the "Queen of Repentismo in Cuba," left a significant legacy in Cuban culture as an oral poet and promoter of the rural oral tradition. Her mastery of the décima made her an iconic figure in Cuban repentismo, and her work was recognized with the National Community Culture Award.
What was Tomasita Quiala's journey in improvisational poetry?
Tomasita Quiala trained at the Varona Suárez school for the blind and from a young age demonstrated a natural talent for poetic improvisation. Her career developed at the Antonio María Romeu Provincial Music Center, and she gained popularity through her participation in the television program "Palmas y Cañas." She also took her art to international stages in countries like Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Argentina.
What was Tomasita Quiala's relationship with the Cuban regime?
Tomasita Quiala was known for her adherence to the Cuban regime, which made her an official figure within the cultural landscape of the island. Despite this, her artistic legacy and contributions to improvisational poetry are widely recognized beyond her political stance.
Filed under: