Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was honored on August 23 by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel with the prestigious Haydee Santamaria Medal.
The award, conferred by Cuba’s Casa de las Americas, recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the enrichment, defense, and integration of the genuine cultures of Cuba and the South.
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, presented the award to Soyinka.
Director of the Centre for Literary Research of Casa de las Americas, Jorge Fornet, announced the honor in a post on the Cuban Presidency’s X handle, stating that awarding the medal to Soyinka in the name of the extraordinary woman was “an act of justice and honor.”
Following the ceremony, Diaz-Canel expressed his gratitude for Soyinka’s visit during a challenging time in Cuba, noting that “It was the visit of a brother who has always been fighting for the most just causes.”
The event also served as a dual celebration, marking Soyinka’s 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba.
In his acceptance speech, Soyinka reflected on his deep connection to the island, stating, “Cuba is also my home,” and alluding to the strong ties uniting the northern Caribbean island and Africa.
The 63rd anniversary of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba coincided with the presentation of the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize to Soyinka.
Soyinka acknowledged having “great political and cultural adventures in Cuba,” recognizing the role played by the Antillean nation in the liberation of Africa.
“We must not allow ourselves to forget, because Cuba has shown that the pen and weapons of liberation count in achieving sovereignty and self-determination,” the Soyinka said.
The Haydee Santamaria Medal, named after a revolutionary icon, is one of Cuba’s highest honors and is awarded to national and foreign citizens and groups who share the objectives of the Casa de las Americas.
President Diaz-Canel emphasized the significance of awarding Soyinka the medal, describing it as “an expression of many feelings for Cuba. The Haydee always harped on the importance of culture to revolution.”
Jorge Fornet echoed the president’s sentiments, noting that “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 honors us.”
Reflecting on the deep cultural ties between Africa and Cuba, Soyinka expressed his affection for the South American nation.
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“Our ties with Cuba are not limited to art and literature, but also to liberation,” he said, fondly recalling, “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.”
A noted theatre critic and theorist, Omar Valiño, lauded Soyinka as a “consistent man,” highlighting that his intellectual work is deeply rooted in the ancestral wisdom of Yoruba culture.
Wole Soyinka’s distinguished career has seen him become a global icon of literature and social justice. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, becoming the first African laureate in that category.
