The improvisational poet Tomasita Quiala is hospitalized with a myocardial infarction

March 17, 2025

The renowned Cuban improvisational poet Juana Tomasa Quiala Rojas, affectionately known as Tomasita Quiala, is hospitalized in serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Leopoldito Martínez hospital, in San José de las Lajas, after suffering a cardiovascular infarction this Sunday.

According to reports from Diario de Mayabeque, although the situation is delicate, her condition shows "a tendency toward stability." Documentarian Juan Carlos Travieso added that the artist also presents "respiratory complications and mild pneumonia."

Tomasita represents one of the most powerful voices in Cuban repentismo. Born in Banes, Holguín, on December 29, 1961, her family moved to Havana when she was eight years old. Her education took place at the Varona Suárez school for the blind, where she began to develop her talent for the décima.

As a blind woman in a field traditionally dominated by men, Quiala has left a transcendental mark on Cuban culture. Her debut in improvisation occurred fortuitously during a canturía, where she intervened to defend another poet, earning immediate recognition from the public.

Since 1986, when she began her professional career at the Provincial Center of Music "Antonio María Romeu" in Havana, her art has transcended borders, being applauded in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Argentina. In 2004, her commitment to community work was recognized with the National Prize for Community Culture.

Radio Jaruco and various local media outlets have echoed the news, transmitting messages of support and wishes for a speedy recovery for this emblematic figure of Cuban repentismo, who has dedicated her life to preserving and enriching this cultural tradition.