New Book Explores Historical Ties Between Canary Islands and Cuba

The long-standing historical connection between the Canary Islands and Cuba—shaped by centuries of migration and cultural exchange—is the focus of a new book, Cuba y Canarias. Huellas en ambas orillas (Cuba and the Canary Islands: Footprints on Both Shores). The La Orotava City Council will host the official launch this Monday at 7:00 p.m. as part of its Book Day celebrations.

Written by researchers Mario Luis López Isla and Ester Lidia Vázquez Seara, the book explores the lives of key figures who acted as bridges between the two regions. In the prologue, engineer Isidoro Sánchez highlights how these stories help us understand the depth of the transatlantic relationship. The book features a diverse range of people, from the literature of Dulce María Loynaz and the scientific work of Alexander von Humboldt to the botanical contributions of Tomás Felipe Camacho.

The work also documents a wide range of mutual influences, highlighting figures such as writer Ernest Hemingway and his collaborator Gregorio Fuentes, as well as influential artists and musicians like Ernesto Lecuona, Manuel Martín, Valentín Sanz Carta, and Mariano Rodríguez.

This publication serves as both a contribution to historical memory and a look at the importance of Atlantic identity. The bond between the Canary Islands and Cuba has been a central part of Canarian migration history, playing a significant role in shaping Cuba’s cultural development. The presentation in La Orotava offers a chance to reflect on how this shared legacy remains relevant today, keeping a dialogue alive that spans across the ocean.