"Don't I have thenA Mandinga, Congo or Dahomeyan grandfather?What's his name? Oh, yes, tell me?...Am I Yelofe?...Could it be Guillén Kongué?Oh, who knows!What an enigma between the waters!"
"From seeing myself so often in the registry / from seeing myself in a scrap of paper..." 2. "The Surname" by Langston Hughes
In English-speaking cultures, individuals typically carry one primary last name. However, Spanish-speaking cultures use a double-surname system. Understanding this system is crucial for translating and contextualizing "el apellido Nicolás Guillén."
"El apellido" is a profound exploration of personal and collective identity. It addresses the forced erasure of African heritage during slavery, where enslaved people were stripped of their original names and given those of their slave owners.
Guillén was a master of poesía negra , a genre heavily influenced by the rhythms of African musical traditions, particularly the Cuban son . el apellido nicolas guillen english translation
Do you need English translations of by Nicolás Guillén?
And the answer is not in any archive. It is in the blood. In the rhythm. In the skin. In the joy that bursts out in spite of everything. In the son, in the rumba, in the conga that rises like a shout:
However, to provide more context about Nicolás Guillén:
Throughout his career, Guillén used his name and platform to fight racism, imperialism, and social inequality. He championed the concept of mestizaje —the blending of European and African cultures—arguing that Cuba’s true identity was inherently mulatto. His famous poetry collections, such as Sóngoro cosongo (1931) and West Indies, Ltd. (1934), remain vital cultural touchstones. 3. Political Impact "Don't I have thenA Mandinga, Congo or Dahomeyan grandfather
: Guillén uses his own mixed heritage as a metaphor for the broader Cuban identity—a blend of Spanish and African influences. The African Diaspora : The poem lists various African ethnic groups like the , asking which one is his true origin. English Translations The most widely recognized English translation is by Roberto Márquez My Last Name / El Apellido
For those interested in his poetry, Guillén's works have been widely translated, offering readers around the world a glimpse into his unique perspective and literary skill.
This is the central conflict of "El Apellido." The poem is not about a simple name; it is about —the African surname that was never recorded, erased by history, or "dissolved in inmemorial ink," as Guillén writes. The poet desperately searches for his "other surname," the bloody and captured name that came from that enormous land and crossed the sea in chains. This search is not for a piece of paper, but for a complete, unbroken identity.
When I was a boy — it must have been around 1920 — there was a tall, scrawny Black man, with sad eyes and a clean, worn suit, who used to pass by my house every afternoon. He would always walk slowly, looking from side to side, like someone searching for something he had lost a long time ago. Guillén was a master of poesía negra ,
," you are looking at the names of Cuba's celebrated National Poet, whose full name was Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista . Etymology and Meaning
Transculturation in the Poetry of Nicolás Guillén - ucf stars
With what tremendous and resonant voicewill I have to shout my last name?With what tongue my last namethat I do not have?...And my name? Does nobody know it?...Is there no man who does not knowwhat he is called?
It is often studied as a "poema-son," a form Guillén pioneered that blends traditional Spanish metrics with the rhythmic structures of Afro-Cuban son music. 2. Etymology of the Surname "Guillén"
Are you sure it is my name?Do you have all my papers?Do you know my grandfather, my great-grandfather?Do you know where my roots are buried?