By Dr Lebogang Lance Nawa
The National Writers Association of South Africa (NWASA), accompanied by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), will on Tuesday convene a high-level engagement with the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba at the Cuban Embassy in Pretoria.
The meeting marks a significant milestone in strengthening cultural diplomacy and literary cooperation between South Africa and Cuba. Central to the engagement will be the formal signing of a Cultural Partnership Agreement between NWASA and the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). The Cuban counterpart has already appended its signature to the agreement, and the ceremony will witness NWASA leadership formally endorsing the partnership under the auspices of the Cuban Ambassador, with DIRCO serving as a key supporter and observer.
Delegations
The NWASA delegation will comprise:
1. Molaodi wa Sekake – Acting President of NWASA
2. Dr. Lebogang Lance Nawa – Secretary- General of NWASA
3. Dr. Mongane Wally Serote – NWASA’s Council of Elders
4. Mothobi Mutloatse – NWASA’s Council of Elders
5. Prof. Kwesi Prah – NWASA’s Council of Elders
The DIRCO delegation will include:
1. Mr. BJ Erasmus (Deputy Director: Sub-directorate: Caribbean; Directorate Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean)
2. Ms. L. Sekhasimbe (Senior Foreign Service Officer)
Historical Context of NWASA–Cuba Relations
The forthcoming signing is the culmination of a deliberate and steadily evolving relationship between NWASA and Cuban literary institutions, dating back to early engagements in South Africa.
On 21 June 2023, NWASA leadership held a foundational meeting with Lauren Luis Acosta, Diplomatic Attaché for Press and Cultural Affairs at the Cuban Embassy in Pretoria. This engagement was aimed at fostering relations with Cuban writers and followed NWASA’s principled public stance in defence of Afro-Cuban poet Nancy Morejón in the international literary arena.
The meeting laid the groundwork for formal cooperation, with both parties expressing commitment to institutionalising relations between organised writers in Cuba and South Africa, including prospects for joint literary projects and exchanges.
This early diplomatic-cultural interface was followed by a landmark engagement in Havana, Cuba, on 22 February 2025, where NWASA Acting President Molaodi wa Sekake met with UNEAC President Mairely Ramón Delgado (Dazra Novak) at UNEAC headquarters.
Held on the sidelines of the 33rd Havana International Book Fair – where South Africa was the guest of honour and over 40 countries were represented – the meeting advanced concrete areas of collaboration, including translation of literary works, exchange programmes, and sustained intellectual engagement between writers of both nations.
These engagements are rooted in a deeper historical and political solidarity between South Africa and Cuba, extending into literary formations such as the Congress of South African Writers (COSAW), and expressed through ongoing acts of mutual support within global cultural platforms.
About the Agreement
The Cultural Partnership Agreement establishes a framework for bilateral cooperation in the development and promotion of literature, grounded in shared values of cultural diversity, human dignity, freedom of expression, and international solidarity.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines a broad programme of collaboration, including:
· Translation and exchange of literary works to foster mutual understanding;
· Joint publishing initiatives reflecting the cultural heritage of both nations;
· Exchange visits and literary delegations;
· Participation in book fairs, seminars, and conferences;
· Strengthening digital literary platforms;
· Advocacy for the protection of writers’ rights and intellectual property.
The agreement also affirms the role of writers as interpreters of social reality and custodians of collective memory, while promoting non-partisan engagement with global issues affecting literature and humanity.
Importantly, the MOU is a non-binding framework that enables flexible cooperation without imposing financial obligations on either party.
Strengthening Cultural Diplomacy
This engagement reflects a deepening of historic ties between South Africa and Cuba, anchored in solidarity, shared struggles and a mutual commitment to cultural and intellectual exchange. It affirms the growing importance of public and cultural diplomacy as instruments for fostering mutual understanding between nations.
NWASA views this partnership as a strategic platform to elevate South African literature globally, expand access to new audiences, and build enduring relationships with writers and cultural institutions across the world.
Furthermore, NWASA expresses its sincere appreciation to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for its steadfast support and facilitation of this historic engagement. This collaboration affirms DIRCO’s recognition of cultural diplomacy as a vital instrument within South Africa’s foreign policy toolkit – one that harnesses the power of literature, arts, heritage and intellectual exchange to build bridges between nations. Through its partnership with NWASA, DIRCO demonstrates a clear commitment to advancing South Africa’s soft power by elevating the voices of writers as ambassadors of culture, dialogue and mutual understanding on the global stage.
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Dr Lebogang Lance Nawa is the Secretary- General of the National Writers Association of South Africa (NWASA)
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