Alejo Carpentier (1904 - 1980)

Alejo Carpentier was born on December 26 in 1904 in Havana, where he lived and went to school until the age of 12. He then went to Paris where he completed his secondary education and also embarked on musical studies with his mother.

Upon his return to Cuba, he began studying architecture, following his father’s footsteps, however he didn’t finish studying to get his degree.

Carpentier began working as a journalist and participating in leftist political movements. He was imprisoned and upon his release, he went into exile, staying in France. He then returned to his homeland for a time, working on radio programs and focusing especially on Cuban music. He also visited Mexico, Haiti and Venezuela, staying in the latter for eleven years before returning to Cuba.

After the Cuban revolution, Carpentier held several diplomatic positions for the new revolutionary government. He died abroad, however, in Paris on April 25, 1980.