Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez bestowed La Casa de las Americas‘ highest honor, the Haydee Santamaria Medal, on one of Cuba’s most influential singer-songwriters, Pablo Milanes in Havana last Friday:

The Nobel laureate in literature, who turned 80 earlier this week, joked that it was the first time he had bestowed a medal on a younger person, the official National Information Agency known as AIN reported.

Based in Cuba, Casa de las Americas represents music, literature and other fine arts throughout Latin America. Writers, musicians and artists from countries across the region often are called upon to present colleagues with the Haydee Santamaria Medal from Casa de las Americas.

No one can be sure, but rumors were flying that Gabo (pictured above with Milanes) spent his birthday in the company of Fidel, according to AP.

Via / Yahoo! News

Image: Am.com.mx via AP