Related videos:
Two years after her death, the legendary Cuban artist Juana Bacallao remains without a gravestone at the Pantheon of Culture in the Colón Cemetery in Havana, as reported on social media by musician Papushi.
In a Facebook post, the artist stated that he felt “sad” upon realizing that the vault where the remains of the popular singer rest still lacks a visible identification.
"Sad reality, two years after the death of Juana Bacallao, her tomb still remains without a headstone," he wrote.
Papushi recalled that a year ago he had already raised concerns about this situation and that, days later, it was publicly stated that the headstone had been placed. However, upon visiting the cemetery again this month, he stated that he did not find any plaque identifying the site.
The musician visited the cemetery to bring a bouquet of flowers, not only to mark the anniversary of his passing, but also as a personal gesture of gratitude. He recounted that Juana agreed to record the song “Bailando con Juana” after hearing him perform the song a capela at her home, even without a demo beforehand.
"I don't sing anything by anyone, but I like it and I'm going to record it," she recalled the artist saying. The song was finally recorded in 2017 and became a radio hit in Cuba, reaching the top spot on several charts when Juana was 92 years old.
The situation in the cemetery is even more concerning, as the grave of singer Paulo FG —located next to that of Juana— was reportedly damaged two months ago and remains broken. “It is also not marked that the remains of these great artists of Cuba rest there, while others do have their gravestones,” they lamented.
Papushi also pointed out that when he visited the cemetery past four in the afternoon, there were no recent flowers on the artist's vault, despite the affection that the public has always shown her both inside and outside the Island.
A discreet farewell
Juana Bacallao passed away on February 24, 2024, at the age of 98 in Havana. Her remains were laid to rest the following day in the Pantheon of Culture at Colon Cemetery, in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso Grau, and dozens of people.
The burial took place discreetly, just like the funeral held at Calzada and K in El Vedado, of which few images circulated on social media.
Born on May 26, 1925, as Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar, Juana Bacallao became an icon of Cuban popular art. Without formal training in music, she developed a career spanning over half a century, characterized by her charisma, distinctive dance style, and sense of humor.
She shone at the Tropicana cabaret and shared the stage with stars such as Nat King Cole, Cantinflas, Rafaela Carrá, Benny Moré, Celia Cruz, Bola de Nieve, Rita Montaner, Rosita Fornés, Omara Portuondo, and Elena Burke, among others.
Filed under: