Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel personally bestowed one of the nation’s highest honours upon renowned Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka during a ceremony in Havana this week. The event, which saw Soyinka receive both the Haydee Santamaria Medal and the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize, coincided with the celebrated author’s 90th birthday and marked the 60th anniversary of his first visit to the Caribbean island nation.
This prestigious award, named after a key figure in the Cuban Revolution, recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the enrichment and defense of authentic cultures in Latin America and the Global South.
Jorge Fornet, director of the Center for Literary Research at Casa de las Americas, praised the decision to honour Soyinka, describing it as “an act of justice that honours us.” The medal is a testament to Soyinka’s lifelong commitment to literature, social justice and cultural exchange between Africa and the Americas.
In a subsequent meeting with President Díaz-Canel, Soyinka expressed his gratitude for the warm reception, especially given the complex challenges currently facing Cuba. The Cuban leader, in turn, thanked Soyinka for his visit, calling him “a brother who has always been fighting for the most just causes.”
The Nobel laureate’s connection to Cuba runs deep. During the ceremony,held at Casa de las Americas, a prominent cultural institution in Havana, Soyinka remarked that “Cuba is also my home,” highlighting the strong cultural and historical ties between the island and Africa. He pointed to Cuba’s crucial role in supporting African liberation movements, urging that this history must not be forgotten.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Soyinka was also presented with the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). This award, coinciding with UNEAC’s 63rd anniversary, further cements Soyinka’s status as a literary giant with global influence.
Omar Valiño, a prominent Cuban theatre critic, lauded Soyinka’s work for its sincerity, intelligence and deep roots in Yoruba culture. Valiño recalled Soyinka’s poignant observation that “Cuba is part of the African continent by will, not by chance,” a statement that encapsulates the profound historical and cultural connections between Cuba and Africa.
