Cuba Says Goodbye to Troubadour Eduardo Sosa

February 12, 2025

Cuban singer-songwriter Eduardo Sosa Laurencio passed away in the early morning of Wednesday, February 12 in Guantánamo, at the age of 52, due to a hemorrhagic stroke suffered on Monday the 3rd. His passing leaves a void in Cuban trova music, where he was one of the most beloved and respected voices of his generation.

Born on April 18, 1972 in Mayarí, now part of Santiago de Cuba province, Sosa showed a natural inclination toward music from childhood. Since age 12, he joined the amateur artists movement and stood out in festivals organized by the OPJM, the FEEM, and the FEU, where he won several awards that foreshadowed his future as a troubadour.

His professional career began in 1997 with the duo Postrova, which quickly attracted public and critical attention for its originality. During this period he recorded two albums and participated in the film Las profecías de Amanda, directed by Pastor Vega. In 2003 he began his solo career, establishing himself as one of the most relevant figures in contemporary trova.

Eduardo Sosa left behind a repertoire of high artistic and lyrical value. Among his best-known songs are "Mañanitas de montaña", "Retoño del monte", "El son de Contramaestre" and "A mí me gusta, compay". Additionally, he set to music verses by José Martí and masterfully performed classics of Cuban music, such as "La Bayamesa". His album Como si fueran mías (2017) won the Cubadisco Prize in the Trova category.

Beyond his work as a composer and performer, Sosa was a tireless cultural promoter. He chaired for more than a decade the Organizing Committee of the Pepe Sánchez Trova Festival, in Santiago de Cuba, and was working on the next edition at the time he fell ill. His work contributed significantly to the preservation and revitalization of the troubadour genre.

He represented Cuba at numerous international events and shared the stage with prominent figures in Ibero-American music such as Ana Belén, Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, Frank Fernández and Pancho Amat, among others. He was also host of the television program Entre manos, alongside Marta Campos, where he promoted trova and its history.

Throughout his career he received multiple recognitions, including the Distinction for National Culture and the Raúl Gómez García, Abel Santamaría, and Alejo Carpentier medals. In 2023, he was elected deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power for the Diez de Octubre municipality, reaffirming his commitment to Cuban society.

In November 2024 he was elected vice president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, at the X Congress of the organization.

His last artistic activity was his participation in the Guantánamo-Baracoa Theater Crusade, where he gave concerts and talks in hard-to-reach communities. Shortly after, he suffered the stroke that led to his hospitalization at the Dr. Agostinho Neto General Teaching Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, but his condition remained critical until his death.

The news of his death has had a profound impact on colleagues, friends, and followers, who admired him not only for his talent, but for his dedication to Cuban music and culture. His voice and his songs will remain as an essential part of the nation's sonic heritage.

A note from the Cuban Institute of Music informs that by family decision, his body will be cremated and a tribute will be held in his native Mayarí and at the Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba. His ashes will be laid to rest in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where he will rest alongside other illustrious figures of Cuban culture.