Mexico City hosts tributes to Orlando Ortiz and Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén Barnet

Cultural figures and institutions in Mexico held separate tributes to honor the legacies of writer Orlando Ortiz and Cuban poet and anthropologist Nicolás Guillén Barnet.

At the Casa Marie José y Octavio Paz in Mexico City, a ceremony honored Orlando Ortiz (1945–2021). Ortiz was a prolific narrator, essayist, and editor known for his work on Mexican history, including the 1968 student movements and the 'dirty war.' His career spanned over five decades, during which he published more than forty books and mentored numerous writers through literary workshops and the Tierra Adentro program.

In a separate event, the International Confederation of Universities awarded Nicolás Guillén Barnet an honorary doctorate and the Emiliano Zapata medal. During the ceremony, Barnet expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by Mexico and addressed the impact of the United States blockade on the Cuban population. The event, organized by local officials and cultural associations, emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between Mexico and Cuba.