Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was awarded the prestigious Haydee Santamaria Medal by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on August 23.
This esteemed medal, one of Cuba’s highest honors, was given to Soyinka in recognition of his lifelong commitment to justice, culture, and human progress.
President Diaz-Canel highlighted the importance of Soyinka’s visit, calling it “the visit of a brother who has always fought for just causes.”
He further remarked, “Awarding Soyinka the medal is an expression of many feelings for Cuba. The Haydee always harped on the importance of culture to revolution.”
Director of the Centre for Literary Research at Casa de las Americas, Jorge Fornet, echoed the president’s sentiments, “Awarding Soyinka the Haydee Santamaría Medal, which has been previously received by many of the most outstanding figures of Latin American, Caribbean, and other world intellectuals, is an act of justice that honours us.”
The event served as a dual celebration, honoring Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba.
Reflecting on the profound cultural connections between Africa and Cuba, Soyinka expressed his deep affection for the South American country.
“Our ties with Cuba are not limited to art and literature, but also to liberation,” he said as fondly recalled, “I grew up listening to Cuban music in those days when there were gramophones, when there was no electricity. This has been a wonderful way to bring me back and remind me that Cuba is also my home. And it is proof that Yoruba is everywhere here, and that completes the spiritual aspect of people like me.”
The Haydee Santamaria Medal, named after a revolutionary figure, honors individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the goals of Casa de las Américas, a leading Cuban cultural institution.
In addition to this medal, Prof. Wole Soyinka was also awarded the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.
Omar Valiño, a prominent theatre critic, praised Soyinka as a “consistent man,” noting that his intellectual work is deeply rooted in Yoruba cultural wisdom.
Soyinka’s distinguished career, recognized globally, includes winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, making him the first African laureate in this category.
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