Who is Wole Soyinka? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka

Age: 90 Years, 90 Year Old Males

Family:

father: Samuel Ayodele Soyinka

mother: Grace Eniola Soyinka

Nobel Laureates In Literature Nigerian Men

City: Abeokuta, Nigeria

Ideology: Democrats

Founder/Co-Founder: Drama Association of Nigeria

More Facts

awards: 1983 - Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1986 - Nobel Prize for Literature
1986 - Agip Prize for Literature

1990 - Benson Medal from Royal Society of Literature
2009 - Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award

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1

What are some major themes in Wole Soyinka's works?

Some major themes in Wole Soyinka's works include political oppression, cultural identity, power dynamics, justice, and the impact of colonialism.
2

How did Wole Soyinka contribute to African literature?

Wole Soyinka is known for his significant contributions to African literature through his powerful plays, essays, and poetry that address important social and political issues in Africa.
3

What is Wole Soyinka's stance on corruption in Nigeria?

Wole Soyinka is known for being a vocal critic of corruption in Nigeria, often using his platform to speak out against corrupt practices in government and society.
4

How has Wole Soyinka influenced Nigerian politics?

Wole Soyinka has been influential in Nigerian politics by advocating for democracy, human rights, and good governance, and by using his voice to hold political leaders accountable for their actions.
5

What is Wole Soyinka's perspective on the role of the artist in society?

Wole Soyinka believes that artists have a responsibility to engage with societal issues, challenge the status quo, and advocate for positive change through their creative works.

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Childhood & Early Life

Wole Soyinka was born in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria, which was then a part of the British Empire.

He was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home as his father, Samuel Ayodele Soyinka’s held prominent position as an Anglican minister and headmaster.

He attended St. Peters Primary School and later, enrolled at the Abeokuta Grammar School, where his talent in literary composition was recognised and he won many prizes.

In 1952, he graduated from Government College and then studied English literature, Greek and Western history at the University College in Ibadan. In his last year at University, he worked on a short play for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service.

In 1954, he moved to England and continued to pursue his education at the University of Leeds, under the guidance of Wilson Knight. Here, he became the editor of ‘The Eagle’, the University magazine.

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Career

In 1957, his poems ‘The Immigrant’ and ‘My next Door Neighbour’ were published in the ‘Black Orpheus’, a Nigerian magazine. The same year, his play ‘The Invention’ was produced at the Royal Court Theatre, London.

In 1958, he wrote the play, ‘The Swamp Dwellers’ and worked as a play reader at the Royal Court Theatre.

After he received a Rockefeller Research Fellowship to pursue research on African theatre, he returned to Nigeria and produced political satires viz. ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’ and ‘A Dance of The Forest’.

In 1960, he established the ‘Nineteen-Sixty Masks’, an amateur acting communal, to which he devoted considerable time over the years.

In 1962, he joined the department of English at the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he discussed current affairs and spoke out against government censorship. The same year, his essay, ‘Towards a True Theatre’ was published.

In 1964, he resigned from his university position as a protest against the pro-governmental policies imposed by university authorities. The same year he authored two of his dramatic pieces; ‘Before the Blackout’, ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ and a BBC radio play ‘The Detainee’.

After a brief period of imprisonment, he was released in 1969, following which he moved to France and authored ‘The Bacchae of Euripides’ and his collection of poems tilted ‘Poems from Prison’.

From 1970 to 1973, he produced many plays, travelled to the United States for the premiere of his play and wrote a collection of poems titled ‘A shuttle in the Crypt’.

In 1988, he became the Professor of African Studies and Theatre at Cornell University and the same year his collection of poems ‘Mandela's Earth, and Other Poems’ and collection of essays ‘Art, Dialogue and Outrage: Essays on Literature and Culture’ were published.

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In 1991, his radio play ‘A Scourge of Hyacinths’ was transmitted by the BBC African service and the following year ‘From Zia with Love’ premiered in Sienna, Italy.

In 2012, he authored the book ‘Of Africa’, in which he gave a magnificent account of Africa’s most challenging issues, its culture and history.

Controversies & Imprisonment

In 1965, he was arrested by the Nigerian government for allegedly holding a radio announcer at gunpoint to broadcast false election results. A wide campaign by the international community of writers resulted in his release after three months.

He became politically active and set up an unofficial meeting with military governor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967 to stop the Civil War, after which he went into hiding.

He was accused of supporting the Biafrans, inhabitants of Biafra and as a result the Nigerian government imprisoned him for 22 months during the Civil War.

Despite being refused writing material during his imprisonment, it is believed that he managed to author numerous poems and notes, criticizing the Nigerian government. His plays were also screened in New York, while he was still in prison.

He was released along with other political activists by the end of 1969 after the end of the civil war that resulted in the defeat of the Biafrans.

In 1994, during the regime of General Sani Abacha he escaped to Paris as he feared arrest for advocating democracy in Nigeria. He later moved to U.S. His self-exile ended in 1998 after Sani Abacha’s death.

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Major Works

‘A Dance of the Forests’, one of his best works was presented at the Nigerian Independence Day celebrations in 1960. It is regarded as one his most influential plays that proposes a new vision for Africa and was later, published by the Oxford University Press in London and New York. The play was also performed in Paris and Dakar.

His autobiographical book, ‘Ake: The Years of Childhood’ received great critical acclaim and won the prestigious 1983 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.

Awards & Achievements

In 1972, he received the ‘Honoris Causa’ doctorate from the University of Leeds.

In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and he became the first and only Nigerian and Second African to achieve this feat. The same year he was honored with the Agip Prize in Literature.

In 1993, he received an honorary doctorate from Harvard University.

In 1994, he was appointed as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication.

In 2009, he was conferred the Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award.

Personal Life & Legacy

His first two marriages failed and in 1989, he got married, for a third time, to Doherty Folake, a Nigerian.

Facts About Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka once escaped from prison by disguising himself as a "madman" and avoiding suspicion from the guards.

He is known for his love of motorcycles and has been spotted riding through the streets of Lagos on various occasions.

Soyinka is a talented playwright, poet, and essayist, but he also has a passion for acting and has appeared in several films and stage productions.

In addition to his literary achievements, Soyinka is an avid environmentalist and has been involved in various conservation efforts in Nigeria and beyond.

Wole Soyinka Biography

You wanted to know

What are some major themes in Wole Soyinka's works?

How did Wole Soyinka contribute to African literature?

What is Wole Soyinka's stance on corruption in Nigeria?

How has Wole Soyinka influenced Nigerian politics?

What is Wole Soyinka's perspective on the role of the artist in society?