El Apellido Nicolas Guillen English Translation Jun 2026

The physical presentation of the poem has also become art. In 2012, a special edition of "El Apellido" was published by Editorial Cuadernos Papiro in Holguín, Cuba, as a hand-bound, limited-edition broadside. This version features the poem in a large 14-by-13-inch format, printed with a sans serif font using century-old equipment. The art includes a collagraph of words related to the title poem, created from lead type, with each of the 100 copies receiving different inking, making every edition unique. It remains a highly sought-after item for collectors of Cuban poetry.

The search for "el apellido nicolas guillen english translation" is ultimately a search for understanding the heart of Cuban poetry. The English translation by Roberto Márquez—"My Last Name"—opens the door for English-speaking readers to enter Guillén’s world, but the poem itself requires the reader to walk through the door.

Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989) was a Cuban poet, journalist, and activist. He is widely considered the national poet of Cuba and a leader of the Afrocubanismo movement. This cultural movement in the early 20th century sought to recognize and celebrate African roots as a core pillar of Cuban identity. el apellido nicolas guillen english translation

"¿No lo sabéis? Me lo han dado. / Un nombre ajeno, / una identidad robada."

Transculturation in the Poetry of Nicolás Guillén - ucf stars The physical presentation of the poem has also become art

Do you need a of the entire poem?

The loss of the original African family name due to the brutality of slavery. The art includes a collagraph of words related

This noun means "the surname" or "the last name."