Laureates

Casa de las Américas was founded in April 1959 for the purpose of developing and extending the socio-cultural relations with the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the world. It has developed into one of the best-known and most prominent cultural institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The institution awards the Casa de las Américas Prize, one of the oldest and most prestigious prizes in Latin American literature. It also conducts research, supports and publishes materials produced by writers, social scientists, humanists, sculptors, musicians and other artists, as well as students of literature and arts. Its official body is the journal Casa de las Américas, published since 1961.

Bernard Binlin Dadié, a renowned intellectual from Côte d’Ivoire, was selected among a pool of candidates from 20 countries. After careful review of the candidatures, the international jury of the prize unanimously recommended the nomination of Mr Bernard Binlin Dadié as the Laureate for the Prize’s 2015 Edition considering that he is a pioneer and giant of African literature. His oeuvre is a classic of Francophone literature and represents an outstanding contribution to the prize’s objectives.

Born in 1916, in Assini, Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Dadié is a prolific essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, and public figure. In his writing, influenced by his experiences of colonialism as a child, Dadié attempts to connect the messages of traditional African folktales with the contemporary world. His humanism and desire for equality and independence of Africans and their culture are prevalent in his writings.

Mr. Dadié was very active in the movement for independence of his homeland and after Côte d'Ivoire's independence in 1960, he held senior government positions, including the post of Minister of Culture of his country, from 1977 to 1986. Mr. Dadié was intensively engaged in the work of UNESCO and from 1964 to 1972 he was a member and vice-president of the Executive Board of the Organization.