From the 1960s, the nom de guerre “Castro” was popular among freedom fighters in Southern Africa. Today, in Africa as in the Latin-speaking countries and elsewhere, the sons of many offspring of those guerrillas bear the name Fidel, or Fidelis.

That 1960s generation was immensely inspired by Fidel Castro Ruz’s epic leadership of the Cuban Revolution. He represented overthrowing tyranny, confronting imperialism, transforming society, and the historic lessons of international solidarity. Generations since have learned those motivational lessons. Learning from Fidel and even studying in Cuba, they have continued to follow the legendary footsteps — in theory and practice — of one of the foremost revolutionaries of modern times.

His life and legacy are intrinsically bound up with Africa’s destiny — earning him the undying gratitude of its peoples, along with the rest of humanity. In Fidel’s immortal words, after forcing the racist South African military to make its ignominious retreat from Angola after the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in 1988: “The history of Africa will be written as before and after Cuito Cuanavale.”