Afonso R. Castelao.

His parents Joaquina Castelao Genme and Mariano Rodríguez Dios welcomed a son on 29 January 1886 in the coastal town of Rianxo, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. At the University of Santiago de Compostela, he studied medicine and soon engaged in Galician cultural and political movements. Growing up in Rianxo immersed him in the Galician language and traditions, shaping his future work as a writer and activist.

Castelao wrote and acted in the 1936 film Galicia, a documentary showcasing the landscape and culture of his homeland. He later contributed to films such as O pai de Migueliño 1977 and Os paxaros morren no aire 1978, both released after his death. His writing career produced influential essays and novels in Galician, advocating for regional autonomy and linguistic rights. He stood as a key figure in the Galician Literature Day celebrations.

Castelao spent his later years in exile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he fled after the Spanish Civil War. He died there on 7 January 1950 due to lung cancer. He was married and had a family, but details about his spouse and children are not widely documented. His parents were Joaquina Castelao Genme and Mariano Rodríguez Dios.

Castelao’s legacy endures in Galicia. The region awarded him the Gold Medal of Galicia, its highest honor. Each year, Galicia celebrates his birthday, 29 January, as Galician Literature Day Día das Letras Galegas, which honors outstanding figures in Galician letters. Castelao is remembered for his commitment to Galician identity and his contributions to film, literature, and political consciousness.