Havana, Cuba – In a momentous ceremony on August 23, 2024, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel awarded the prestigious Haydee Santamaria Medal to Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The honour was bestowed at Casa de las Americas, a cultural institution in Havana, marking a significant gesture of solidarity and respect between Cuba and the esteemed Nigerian writer.
The Cuban presidency, in a statement, described Soyinka’s visit as highly symbolic, referring to him as a “brother who has always fought for just causes.” President Diaz-Canel emphasized that the medal was not just an award but an expression of the deep cultural and revolutionary values shared between Soyinka and Cuba. “With you, we share ideas, dreams, commitment to human improvement,” Diaz-Canel remarked, underscoring the profound connection between the two nations.
Jorge Fornet, director of the Centre for Literary Research at Casa de las Americas, highlighted the significance of the award. He noted that the Haydee Santamaría Medal, previously granted to prominent intellectuals and figures from Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond, was a tribute to Soyinka’s enduring influence and contributions. “Awarding Soyinka the Haydee Santamaría Medal is an act of justice that honors us,” Fornet said.
The ceremony coincided with the celebration of Soyinka’s 90th birthday and marked the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba. During his remarks, Soyinka expressed his deep affection for Cuba, calling the nation his “home” and advocating for stronger ties between Africa and the Caribbean. Reflecting on his youth, Soyinka shared memories of listening to Cuban music on gramophones, a testament to the cultural connections that have long bound the two regions. “This has been a wonderful way to bring me back and remind me that Cuba is also my home,” he said, adding, “Yoruba is everywhere here, and that completes the spiritual aspect of people like me.”
In addition to the Haydee Santamaria Medal, the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba awarded Soyinka the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize. Omar Valiño, a Cuban theatre critic and theorist, praised Soyinka as a “consistent man” whose intellectual work is deeply rooted in the ancestral wisdom of Yoruba culture.
Wole Soyinka, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, continues to be a towering figure in global literature and activism, and his recognition in Cuba is a testament to his lifelong dedication to cultural and revolutionary ideals.
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