From his profile on the social network Twitter, the president described this renowned contemporary writer as a much-loved and essential man in the culture of the Caribbean nation and sent his deepest condolences to his family and friends. Following the news of his death, on Friday in Havana, the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso, alluded to the creator of dozens of theatrical plays, which have been taken on by the country’s main groups and adapted to cinema and television, among them, Mi socio Manolo.

The Consejo Nacional de las Artes Escénicas mentioned his itinerary linked to popular art and the authentic expressions of the national dramatic tradition and mentioned the conception of plays such as: María Antonia, Calixta Comité, Emelina Cundiamor or Lagarto Pisabonito. For its part, the National Library of Cuba described Hernandez Espinosa as one of the greats of the island’s cultural panorama and the Bamboleo Orchestra recognized his condition as founder and director of the Caribbean Theater Group and his distinction as an emeritus artist.

The writer also served on the juries of the Casa de las Americas Literary Award, the Havana Festival of New Latin American Cinema and the Literary Contest of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac) and in 1995 he was awarded the Alejo Carpentier Medal by the Council of State of the Republic.

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