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Virgilio López Lemus awarded Cuba's National Literature Prize

From Granma · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Writer, poet, essayist, and translator Virgilio López Lemus received the National Literature Prize 2025 at the Havana International Book Fair.
  • The award recognized his excellent work in lyric poetry and literary essays, with his work described as a living organism reflecting Cuban memory.
  • López Lemus dedicated his award to Cuba, poetry, his parents, the Cuban Revolution, and fellow writers, emphasizing the importance of being a useful and good person.

The 34th Havana International Book Fair celebrated Cuban literary figure Virgilio López Lemus, awarding him the National Literature Prize 2025. The unanimous decision recognized his distinguished career in poetry and essay writing. The event, held in the packed Nicolás Guillén hall, saw spontaneous applause interrupt tributes to the esteemed writer.

Today Cuban culture recognizes the coherence of his trajectory, the virtue of one who has turned writing into an act of faith and love.

— Yoan CartayaSubdirector of Letras Cubanas, praising López Lemus's work.

Yoan Cartaya, deputy director of Letras Cubanas, praised López Lemus's work as a "living organism that breathes insular memory." He highlighted the author's "coherence of trajectory" and his transformation of writing into an "act of faith and love." Cartaya described his work as a "temple of critical thought and a siege against solitude."

Two homelands I have: Cuba and poetry, because being born here is an unspeakable celebration.

— Virgilio López LemusIn his acceptance speech for the National Literature Prize.

López Lemus received the award from Fernando León Jacomino, vice minister of Culture, and Juan Rodríguez Cabrera, president of the Cuban Book Institute. In his acceptance speech, he declared, "I have two homelands: Cuba and poetry." He paid homage to José Martí and Lezama, his parents, and the Cuban Revolution, which he credited with giving "another meaning to his life" and enabling his "uncontainable vocation" for reading and writing.

another meaning to his life

— Virgilio López LemusReferring to the impact of the Cuban Revolution on his life and literary vocation.

He also acknowledged loyalties to fellow poet Alberto Acosta-Pérez and mentioned influential authors like Samuel Feijóo, Cleva Solís, Rafaela Chacón Nardi, Rafael Alcides, and Jesús Orta Ruiz. He thanked his early teachers and close friends. López Lemus concluded his address by stating, "There is no greater merit than passing through this world as a good person, trying to be useful and being so," before exclaiming, "Long live poetry, life's companion! Long live poetry forever!"

No greater merit than passing through this world as a good person, trying to be useful and being so.

— Virgilio López LemusConcluding his acceptance speech.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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