Dylan sends Nobel prize speech

STOCKHOLM: Rock legend Bob Dylan, the 2016 Nobel Literature Laureate, will play a part at the upcoming award ceremony despite his absence, organisers have said.

American singer Patti Smith was to perform Dylan’s song A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall at Saturday’s award ceremony in Stockholm’s Concert Hall.

A presentation of Dylan and his work will also be given at the award ceremony, said Jonna Petterson of the Nobel Foundation.

The presentation will be made by Horace Engdahl, a member of the Swedish Academy that recently cited the 75-year-old singer-songwriter for creating “new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.

No one was, however, to accept Dylan’s prize in his absence at the award ceremony, she said.

Dylan has also provided a thankyou speech that will be read at the banquet at the Stockholm City Hall held after the ceremony.

The banquet – attended by the Swedish royal family, and members of government – is a top event on the Swedish social calendar.