The Associated Press
Saturday, March 10, 2007; 12:01 AM
HAVANA -- Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez on Friday presented
Cuban singer Pablo Milanes with a medal from the Casa de las Americas
for his contributions to Latin American culture.
The Nobel laureate in literature, who turned 80 earlier this week, joked
that it was the first time he had bestowed a medal on a younger person,
the official National Information Agency known as AIN reported.
Based in Cuba, Casa de las Americas represents music, literature and
other fine arts throughout Latin America. Writers, musicians and artists
from countries across the region often are called upon to present
colleagues with the Haydee Santamaria Medal from Casa de las Americas.
Garcia Marquez has a long friendship with ailing 80-year-old Cuban
leader Fidel Castro, but AIN did not say if he had visited his fellow
octogenarian, or even when he arrived on the island.
Earlier news reports from Colombia indicated Garcia Marquez may have
spent his birthday on Tuesday in Cuba. But reports about the awards
ceremony Friday were the first official confirmation that he was here.
International news media based on the island were not invited to the
awards ceremony, which was showed later on state television. AIN
reported that Garcia Marquez planned to return to Colombia soon afterward.
Milanes, an internationally acclaimed folk singer who wrote the seminal
Latin America love song "Yolanda," described the awards ceremony as
"exceptional."
He said he was especially moved to have a medal named after his late
mentor Santamaria, a rebel fighter also known for her contributions to
Cuban culture after the 1959 revolution.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031000002.html
No comments:
Post a Comment