Cuban President honours Prof Wole Soyinka Cuban President honours Prof Wole Soyinka... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
The Cuban government has honoured Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka with the National Medal of Honour.
The award was presented to Wole Soyinka on August 22, 2024, at Casa de las Americas, the Haydee Santamaria Medal.
Presenting the medal was Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba.
Miguel took to his social media page to acknowledge Prof Soyinka, saying: “It is an honor to award Wole Soyinka the Haydee Santamaría Medal at our Casa de las Américas.
“We thank him for this visit to #Cuba, where he is considered a brother in the fight for just causes. As Jorge Fornet said there, awarding him the medal is an act of justice.”
It was reported that the Cuban President held a meeting with Prof Soyinka, where he expressed his gratitude to him for his visit to the country.
“Your visit has great significance. It is the visit of a brother who has always been in battle for just causes,” the president noted.
In response to the honour, Prof Wole Soyinka said: “I grew up listening to Cuban music, in those days when there were gramophones, when there was no electricity […] This has been a wonderful way to bring me back and remind me that Cuba is my home too. And it’s proof that Yoruba is everywhere here, and that completes the spiritual aspect of people like me.”
The Nobel Laureate also recounted his first visit to Cuba 60 years ago, for the 4th Latin American Theater Festival, in Havana, 1964.
Reacting to the news, Nigerians took to social media to congratulate Soyinka on his latest achievement.
@VOLTAGE01513: A legend acknowledged all over the world
@adebayoodofin: He is Professor Oluwole Soyinka. At 90, he is still getting recognised. Congratulations are in order.
@AdloveGlobal: congratulation to a legend
@mudson6: Soyinka is legendary.
@Adeandades01: The true son of Odua, more honor
