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The tomb of the legendary Cuban artist Juana Bacallao now has a headstone in the Pantheon of Culture at the Colón Cemetery in Havana, after remaining unidentified for nearly two years.
The Cuban musician Papushi announced on Facebook that this Tuesday he personally went to the cemetery to place the headstone on the tomb where the singer's remains rest.
According to the explanation, a week prior, he had publicly reported that the artist's grave remained unmarked, after visiting the mausoleum to bring her flowers on the second anniversary of her passing, which occurred on February 24, 2024.
Papushi clarified that his initial post was not aimed at raising money to purchase a tombstone, but rather to draw attention to what he considered a disrespect to the memory of one of the most unique figures in Cuban folk art.
The headstone placed on the grave features the artist's real name, Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar, alongside her stage name and the dates of her birth and death.
The text engraved on the plaque reads: “Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar ‘Juana Bacallao’. N: 26-05-1925. F: 24-02-2024.”
On the right side of the tombstone, there is also a message of tribute: "Thank you for your art and all the joy you brought us with your simplicity and humility. May God grant you eternal rest. With love and admiration from your friend Papushi and from all your audience, who will always remember you as ‘Juana la Cubana’."
Juana Bacallao, born in Havana in 1925, developed an artistic career spanning over half a century and became an icon of entertainment and popular music in Cuba due to her charisma, irreverent style, and presence on legendary stages such as the Tropicana cabaret.
The artist passed away on February 24, 2024, at the age of 98 and was laid to rest in the Pantheon of Culture at the Colón Cemetery, where the remains of prominent figures in Cuban culture are interred.
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