‘Source of Inspiration’: Nobel Laureate Soyinka Celebrated As He Clocks 89

Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet and essayist, Wole Soyinka turned 89 on Thursday.

The renowned writer and professor was the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, celebrated the Laureate describing him as “a brother and comrade in the struggle for the restoration and entrenchment of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.”

The President said, “”Today, I celebrate Nobel Laureate, elder statesman and pro-democracy activist, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on his attainment of 89.

“Renowned playwright, poet, novelist, Professor Wole Soyinka has done a lot for Nigeria. In the literary world, he remains a giant, an Iroko. Importantly, his contributions to the struggle for the restoration and institutionalization of democracy and good governance in Nigeria are indelible.”

He went on to say, “Professor Soyinka remains a beacon and a source of inspiration and support to many of us.

“As he attains 89 today, we pray that God Almighty grant him more years and strength so he can be around to witness the new Nigeria we are building in line with our Agenda for a Renewed Hope for the country, where security, prosperity and economic development will reign supreme.”

The Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu, also celebrated the professor as one of nation’s “quintessential scholars” who proudly contributed to the nation’s journey and stand for good governance. According to the governor, “Prof. Soyinka as a literary icon excels in all the genres of literature and1m his prodigious works have continued to be a reference point in academic circles all over the world. 

“His long years of outstanding accomplishments and consistency in the crusade for the well being of citizens had culminated in his legendary status. He is a great pride to Nigeria, Africa and the entire black race.

“He is a renowned advocate of truth, justice and equity, who always align with the populace in the clamour for good governance across the nation and globally. He has demonstrated this on many occasions by lending his voice on national and global issues in favour of the masses.”

Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, popularly known as Wole Soyinka, hails from Abeokuta in Ogun State. Some of his most recognized written works include  “The Man Died: Poetry From Prison”, “The Bacchae of Euripides”, “A Shuttle In the Crypt”, “Poems from Prison” and, his autobiography, “Ake: the Years of Childhood”, amongst others. 

Soyinka who was the chair of Drama at the University of Ibadan, produced and directed many applauded stage plays and films including,  “Requiem”, “The Lion And The Jewel’, “Blues for a Prodigal”, ‘A Play of Giants’ and “Death and the King’s Horseman”.

Soyinka was a human rights activist, is popularly knows for his act of seizing the Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service studio demanding the cancellation of the Western Nigerian Regional Election  in 1965. 

In an effort to prevent the Nigerian civil war after the military coup of January 1966, he secretly and informally met with the military governor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in the town of Enugu in the sout Esast. He was forced to go into hiding as a result.

As civil war broke out between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Biafrans, he was detained for 22 months. While imprisoned, he continued to write a sizeable corpus of poetry and notes critical of the Nigerian government despite being denied access to supplies like books, pencils, and paper.

In 1967 he was arrested for and placed in solitary confinement for “volunteering to be a non-government mediating actor.” His drama “The Lion and The Jewel” was staged in Accra, Ghana, in September 1967 despite his incarceration. The “Trials of Brother Jero” and “The Strong Breed” were presented in New York City’s Greenwich Mews Theatre in November of that year. Idanre and Other Poems, a book of poems that Soyinka also released, was motivated by his trip to the Yoruba god Ogun’s temple. He views Ogun as his “companion” deity, kindred spirit, and protector.

When the civil war ended in October 1969, an amnesty was declared, and Soyinka and other political prisoners were set free.Soyinka sought out isolation at a friend’s property in southern France for the first few months after his release. He revised the Pentheus tale in The Bacchae of Euripides, which he authored in 1969.Poems from Prison, a collection of his poems, was shortly published in London. He returned to his position as Chair of Drama at Ibadan at the conclusion of the year.

On this day, Soyinka was celebrated through the emergence of three top finalists in his 14th Edition of the annual Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE). The competition this year focused on the themes of Nation Building, Good Governance and National Development.

Glamour Adah

Follow us on: