The Conga la Santanica captured the attention of thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad by performing the iconic soundtrack of Game of Thrones to the festive and street rhythms of the conga, in a viral video posted on TikTok last Wednesday by the user @elparrandero.ausente.
The 59-second clip closely captures a young man from behind playing a golden slide trombone while a crowd of young people dances and celebrates in a street or open space. The text overlay in the video sums it all up: "Game of Thrones with Cuban conga. What do you think?"
The public's response was immediate: the video gathered 78,200 views, 8,638 likes, 381 comments, and 2,448 shares, figures that reflect the enthusiasm of the Cuban community both in the diaspora and on the island.
The contrast between the epic and medieval solemnity of the music composed by Ramin Djawadi for the HBO series and the syncopated, festive rhythm of the conga is precisely what makes the fusion so striking.
The publication arrives at a particularly symbolic moment: the carnivals of Santiago de Cuba are traditionally celebrated from July 21 to July 28, making this video part of the festive atmosphere of the high season of one of Cuba's oldest traditions.
The Cuban conga has over 300 years of history. It originated in the 17th century when the colonial authorities allowed African slaves to participate in the religious festivities of Santiago Apóstol, giving rise to an Afro-Cuban syncretic expression that blends African rhythms with Christian tradition. Its most emblematic instrument, the chinese cornet, was adopted from Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century.
This is not the first time the soundtrack of Game of Thrones has been reimagined in a Latin key: there are viral versions in Colombian vallenato, salsa, Andean rhythms with quena and zampoña, and even a parody set to reggaeton. However, the version in Cuban conga offers a unique dimension as it is one of the most deeply rooted cultural expressions of the island.
Cuban musical creativity on TikTok is a well-established phenomenon. Cubans both on the island and abroad have made viral versions of international songs reinterpreted with their own rhythms, from K-pop to bachata. In June 2025, a conga in Santiago de Cuba recorded by another user also went viral on TikTok, generating nostalgia among Cubans in exile.
Conga, in addition to being a celebration, has historically been a space for popular resistance. Recently, groups with critical "coritos" of the regime have gone viral on social media, turning the carnival into an improvised platform for social discontent.
This time, however, Conga la Santanica chose the epic of Westeros for its "epic entrance," as described by the video's author: "Conga la Santanica with an epic entrance."
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