Famous People of Nicaragua
A number of famous Nicaraguans have emerged from Nicaragua's somewhat turbulent past. The majority of these famous people from Nicaragua have played an important role in Nicaraguan politics or literature, but there are others who are known world wide for other reasons. On this page you will discover more about a number of famous Nicaraguans.
Bianca Jagger is probably one of the best known famous Nicaraguans as she is the ex-wife of Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones. Her full name at birth was Bianca Perez Morena De Macias. During the 1990's she became known as an activist for social and environmental issues. Bianca Jagger often acted as a spokesperson for Amnesty International.
Rubén Darío is a famous Nicaraguan poet, known for the extensive influence he has had on Latin American Poetry. Darío's poetry is read throughout the world. He was born in Metapa/Ciudad Darío as Félix Rubén García Sarmiento on 18 January 1867. Due to his amazing talent he was able to appear before President Joaquín Zavala in the year 1882. He became internationally recognized when he published a collection of short stories and poetry called “Azul”.
Sergio Ramírez Mercado, born in Masatepe during 1942, has become known as a great writer and intellectual. He also served as vice-president from 1984 to 1990 and played an important role in the Government Junta of National Reconstruction. His first book called “Cuentos” was published in 1963. Sergio Ramírez began to led the “Group of Twelve” in 1977. This was a group of important people - mostly business people, intellectuals, priests and so on - who supported the FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional) who were working to overthrow Debayle's dictatorship. Throughout his political involvement, Ramírez published several of his works and won many awards for these.
Augusto César Sandino, who was born on 18 May 1895, became recognized as a revolutionary. He lead the rebellion against presence of United States military forces in the country. He was hailed a hero by Latin Americans but a bandit by the United States government. He was later killed by Anastasio Somoza García. In the years to follow the Sandinista National Liberation Front adopted his heritage and broke the dictatorship of Somoza by 1979.
Arlen Siu is famed as one of the first martyrs during the Revolution. She was born in Jinotepe of a Chinese father and Nicaraguan mother. As a teenager she became an avid follower of Sandinistas. By the time she joined the revolutionaries she had become known nationally as a songwriter, guitarist and singer. She died at the tender age of 20 during and ambush in 1972.
Other famous people from Nicaragua include:
- Nora Astorga (Guerrilla fighter, lawyer, politician, judge and Nicaraguan ambassador)
- Blanca Castellon (Poet)
- Daisy Zamora (Poet, painter and political activist)
- Daniel Ortega Saavedra (President)
- Gioconda Belli (Literary figure)
- Michael Cordua (Chef, restauranteur and entrepreneur)
- Herty Lewites (Politician)
- Ernesto Cardenal (Catholic priest, liberation theologian, culture minister and poet)
- Erick Blandon (Poet)
- Yaoska Tijerino (Poet)
User Comments & Reviews
2010-02-16 13:06:36
To Elle and Anon: I met Yaoska in Granada, Nicaragua a few years ago along with several other poets and many other Nicaraguans of amazing talent. I left the country convinced of how much it has to offer and how much we can learn from it. In just the few days I was there, I discovered an immense source of inspiration. One thing was clear: there is something unique about Yaoska’s poetry that makes it HER’S. Through a very close friend, many years ago I became familiar with Flavio Tijerino’s writings and poetry, and although I never had the privilege of knowing him personally, I also admire his uniqueness and talent. It is obvious that there are no similarities whatsoever between the works of these two poets. Stating the contrary is just plain fallacy, which I sense, is probably moved by bitterness and a great deal on envy. Here is my advice: achète-toi une vie. Mots amers, nada mas.
2010-01-26 09:57:14
creo que alguien olvido al heroico andres castro al gran alfonzo cortes , rafaela herrera , jose santos zelaya , emiliano chamorro y al expresidente q e p d depresidentes al dr RENE SCHICK ESPADAFORA
2009-12-09 03:02:35
Alexis Arguello is missing from this list. At least he is mentioned at famousnicaraguans.com with all of the other people on this list even though he is not in the top 10. Three time champion and one of the hardest hitters ever.
2009-12-04 06:19:17
There is a striking similarity between poems by Yaoska Tijerino and those by Flavio C. Tijerino, a great poet whom she was close with.
2009-12-04 02:52:30
Yaoska is NOT a poet, she ripped those poems off someone else. Someone close to her.
2009-11-29 22:01:13
Hola Oscar Luis Enrique was never a merenguero he is a salsero (el principe the la salsa)
2009-11-23 06:38:23
Algo escueto el articulo, pero es un comienzo.Solo queria agregar algunos nombres, se que hay mas pero estos son algunos para agregar:Historicos-Cacique Nicarao,Miguel de Larreynaga,la familia Somoza,Augusto Cesar Sandino,Daniel Ortega;Deportes-Alexis Arguello y Denis Martinez;Musica-Carlos Mejia Godoy y Enrique Mejia Godoy,Luis Enrique(el merenguero);Literatura-Ruben Dario,Pablo Antonio Cuadra,Sergio Ramirez Mercado,Ernesto Cardenal,Gioconda Belli y Michelle Najlis.
2009-10-11 04:31:36
agree, not proud of the ex-president feature on this article, but to those who were born in the country, left at an early age and want to know or find out as much as the y can from their country of origin this article are welcome. Those who have the knowledge should share it so our history, acomplishment and pride should not go unknown. I don't want to go on in ignorance. thank you.
2009-10-03 17:33:26
There are many "Celebrities" that were not mentioned. Never knew that the president was considered a "Celebrity," if so then we should be mentioning all the past presidents that have served the country.
2009-09-26 22:42:52
many of these people are very brve to do such things
2009-09-02 00:42:51
Some of these called "celebrities" are related to the sandinista party. The only true famous celebrity here is Ruben Dario (Felix Ruben Garcia Sarmiento), father of the spanish litterature, and ,maybe, Augusto Nicolas Calderon Sandino (this is his real name). You forgot the few nicaraguan that have achieved greta perfomances in sports, and in many cultural performances.
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