The poet, Soyinka receives Dulce María Loynaz International Prize from UNEAC
The poet, Soyinka receives Dulce María Loynaz International Prize from UNEAC
The poet, Soyinka receives Dulce María Loynaz International Prize from UNEAC.
The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) celebrated its 63rd anniversary with a distinguished event: the awarding of the Dulce María Loynaz International Prize to renowned Nigerian poet Prof. Wole Soyinka.
The 1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature received the honor from UNEAC President Marta Bonet.
In his acceptance speech, Soyinka conveyed his profound happiness and emotional connection, expressing how deeply he valued returning to the supportive embrace of the creative community.
Soyinka confessed to having had great political and cultural adventures in Cuba, recognising the indispensable role played by the Antillean nation in the liberation of the African continent, something that, according to the critic and essayist, “we must not allow ourselves to forget, because Cuba has shown that both the pen and the weapons of liberation count in achieving the sovereignty and self-determination of our peoples.”
Shortly before the award ceremony, theatre critic and theorist Omar Valiño described Soyinka in his eulogy as a “consistent man”, highlighting the sincerity and intelligence of his work, which drew on the ancestral wisdom of Yoruba culture.
The director of the José Martí National Library of Cuba, in a cultural ceremony in front of writers and artists, recalled the words of the Nigerian poet when he said that “as is well known, Cuba is part of the African continent by will, not by chance, so his vision – he said – adjusts a geography beyond the physical space, synthesising the centuries-old relationship between Mother Africa and the Caribbean island.
“His phrase, like no other, sums up the bond of solidarity and detachment that Fidel and the Revolution have maintained for the benefit of the black continent, through a military, medical and educational epic that has gone down in history.”
Soyinka’s political or civil struggles, which once cost him persecution or imprisonment, are a landmark for present and future generations, so it is a priceless privilege to have him among Cubans and Africans today.
