The phrase "El apellido" translates to "The Surname" or "My Last Name".
This is the title of a famous poem by the Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989), in which he explores his identity and the loss of his ancestral African name due to slavery and Spanish colonization. Feature: "El apellido" (The Surname) by Nicolás Guillén
Transculturation in the Poetry of Nicolás Guillén - ucf stars
El Apellido " (English: "My Last Name"), written by Afro-Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén, is a foundational work of Caribbean literature that explores the erasure of African identity through the lens of colonial naming conventions. Core Themes and Analysis
Identity Erasure: The poem acts as a profound inquiry into the origin of the author's surname, "Guillén." He argues that this name was "made by a whip" and imposed by Spanish colonizers, effectively acting as a mask that hides his true African ancestry.
The Black Atlantic: Guillén uses his own genealogy to reflect the collective experience of slavery and displacement. He contrasts the clear, documented lineage of European ancestors (which represents power and domination) with the "rootless" nature of his African heritage. el apellido nicolas guillen english translation
Reclaiming Heritage: Central to the poem is a "search for identity"—an attempt to find oneself beyond the official history and religion imposed by the ruling classes. It serves as a call for Cubans to accept their mixed-race (mestizo) reality rather than denying their African roots. Literary Context: Afrocubanismo
Guillén is the leading figure of Afrocubanismo, a movement that sought to integrate African folklore and rhythms into traditional art.
The Son: Many of his poems are inspired by the son, an Afro-Cuban musical form. While "El Apellido" is more elegiac than his earlier rhythmic works like Motivos de son, it maintains his career-long commitment to making Black culture a legitimate focus of Cuban literature.
National Identity: In 1961, Guillén was proclaimed the National Poet of Cuba, recognized for his ability to weave diverse cultural traditions into a cohesive national narrative. English Translation & Availability
Because Guillén’s poetry often relies on Afro-Cuban vernacular and the musicality of the Spanish language, translations can sometimes diminish these rhythmic elements. The phrase "El apellido" translates to "The Surname"
Exploring Nicolás Guillén’s "El Apellido" (The Surname) Nicolás Guillén , the National Poet of Cuba, published El Apellido (translated as "The Surname" "My Last Name"
) in 1958. The poem is a powerful exploration of identity, Afro-Cuban heritage, and the lasting impact of colonialism. Summary and Core Themes
In the poem, Guillén interrogates his own last name, recognizing it as a Spanish inheritance that conceals his African roots. He questions why he carries a name from the colonizer rather than his ancestral African lineage. Identity and Dislocation
: The speaker reflects on how his true family name was lost during the transatlantic slave trade. Transculturation
: 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 Part 2: Full English Translation of "El Apellido"
, published as a bilingual edition. This translation is often included in anthologies of his work, such as Man-making Words: Selected Poems of Nicolás Guillén
Other notable collections containing translations of his work include:
Below is the original Spanish text of "El apellido" by Nicolás Guillén, followed by an accurate line-by-line el apellido nicolas guillen english translation that preserves the rhythm, rage, and sorrow of the original.
Not knowing his African surname means not knowing his lineage, his tribe, his history. The poem is an elegy for a specific loss but also a metaphor for the destruction of African family structures under slavery.
Despite not knowing his “true” name, Guillén does not ask for a new one. He interrogates the name he has. This is not a victim’s poem – it is an accuser’s poem. He turns the Spanish name into evidence of a crime.