Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Friday, expressed profound gratitude and a deep sense of connection after being conferred with a national honour by the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The esteemed Nigerian playwright and author received the Haydee Santamaria Medal, a prestigious accolade, during a ceremony held at the Casa de las Americas in Havana on August 23.
Reflecting on the honour, Soyinka described it as a significant moment that not only highlighted his lifelong bonds with Cuba but also reaffirmed the presence of Yoruba culture worldwide.
“This has been a wonderful way to bring me back and remind me that Cuba is also my home,” Soyinka remarked. “And it is proof that Yoruba is everywhere here, and that completes the spiritual aspect of people like me.”
President Diaz-Canel, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of Soyinka’s visit to Cuba, describing it as “very significant.”
He lauded Soyinka as a “brother who has always fought for just causes,” underscoring the shared struggles and deep-rooted connections between Cuba and Soyinka’s homeland.
Soyinka also reminisced about his childhood, where Cuban music played a pivotal role in his early years.
He recalled, “I grew up listening to Cuban music, in those days when there were gramophones, when there was no electricity,” illustrating the profound cultural influence Cuba had on him even from a young age.
In his reflections, Soyinka noted that the ties between Cuba and his homeland extend far beyond the realms of art and literature, encompassing shared ideals of liberation and resistance.
This enduring relationship, according to Soyinka, adds a layer of spiritual fulfillment to his identity, deeply intertwined with the global presence of the Yoruba people.
