Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has awarded Wole Soyinka with the prestigious Haydee Santamaria Medal at a ceremony held at the Casa de las Americas on August 23.
In a statement from the Cuban presidency, Diaz-Canel described Soyinka’s visit as highly significant, referring to him as “a brother who has always fought for just causes.”
The president noted that bestowing the medal on Soyinka reflects Cuba’s deep respect and shared values, emphasizing the importance of culture in revolutionary movements.
“With you, we share ideas, dreams, and a commitment to human improvement,” Diaz-Canel remarked.
Jorge Fornet, Director of the Centre for Literary Research at Casa de las Americas, highlighted the significance of this honor, stating that the medal has previously been awarded to some of the most distinguished intellectuals from Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond. He described the recognition of Soyinka as “an act of justice that honours us.”
The event also celebrated Soyinka’s 90th birthday and marked the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba. In his address, Soyinka stressed the importance of strengthening the ties between Africa and Cuba, acknowledging the country as a second home.
“Our ties with Cuba are not limited to art and literature, but also to liberation,” Soyinka said.
He fondly recalled his childhood listening to Cuban music, which he noted as a connection that extends beyond the arts to his spiritual heritage. “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.”
The Haydee Santamaria Medal is awarded to individuals and groups, both Cuban and foreign, who have significantly contributed to realizing the objectives of the Casa de las Americas. During the ceremony, the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba also presented Soyinka with the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize.
Omar Valiño, a Cuban theatre critic and theorist, praised Soyinka as a “consistent man,” whose intellectual work draws deeply from the ancestral wisdom of Yoruba culture.
