Ramón Guirao

Ramón Guirao (* 1908 in Havana , Cuba ; † 1949 there ) was a Cuban journalist and writer.

Guirao came from a humble background; his parents immigrated from Spain some time before he was born. At the request of his parents, he completed a commercial apprenticeship and during this time began to write for various newspapers and magazines such as "Revista de Avance", "Boheme", "Social" and "Diario de la Marina".

He later made a living as a freelance journalist and journalist for these periodicals. Guirao was also the founder of the Sociedad de Estudios Afrocubanos .

reception

In April 1928 Guirao was able to publish his poem "Bailadora de rumba" in the Diario de la Marina . It was not only his debut as a writer, but also the beginning of his commitment to give Afro-Cuban poetry the place it deserved in his country's literary history.

With his efforts for Afro-Cuban poetry, Guirao was an integral part of Cuba's literary life of his time; even if he was always overshadowed by his colleagues Emilio Ballagas (1910–1954) and Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989).

Ramón Guira died in Havana in 1949 at the age of 41, where he found his final resting place.

Works (selection)

Essays

• Desdibujo de Alberto Baeza Flores . In: El mundo como reino . 1967.
• Poetas negras y mestizos de la época esclavista . 1934.

Poetry

• Bongó. Poemos negros y órbíta de la poesía afrocubana . 1934.
• Canción negra sin color . Havana 1966.
• Cuentos y leyendas negras de Cuba . 1942.
• Órbíta de la poesía afro-cubana 1928–1937 . Kraus Reprint, Nendeln 1970 (reprint of the Havana edition 1938).

literature

• Miguel Arnedo-Gomez: Writing rumba. Afro-Cubanista movement in poetry . University Press, Charlottesville, Va. 2006, ISBN 0-8139-2541-X .
• David W. Foster: Cuban literature. Research guide . Garland, New York 1985, ISBN 0-8240-8903-0 .
• Dieter Reichardt: Latin American authors. Literary dictionary and bibliography of German translations . Erdmann Verlag, Tübingen 1972, ISBN 3-7711-0152-2 , p. 417.
• Roberto F. Retamar: Ramón Guirao. Su poesía negra en su en “La poesía contemporánea en Cuba” (1927–1953) . Ed. Orígenes, Havana 1954.