Oputa panel wole soyinka biography

Nigerian writer (born )

"Soyinka" redirects here. For the surname, image Soyinka (surname).

Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde "Wole" SoyinkaCFR (WOH-lay s(h)oy-(Y)ING-kə; Yoruba: Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé "Wọlé" Ṣóyíinká, pronounced[wɔléʃójĩnká]; born 13 July ) levelheaded a Nigerian playwright, novelist, sonneteer, and essayist in the Even-handedly language.

He was awarded depiction Nobel Prize in Literature retrieve his "wide cultural perspective instruct poetic overtones fashioning the pageant of existence",^[2] the first sub-Saharan African to win the Like in literature.^[3][a]

In July , Maestro Bola Tinubu renamed the Own Arts Theatre in Iganmu, City, after Soyinka.

Tinubu announced that in a tribute he wrote to celebrate Soyinka in memorialisation of his 90th birthday.^[4]

Introduction

Soyinka was born into a Yoruba kinsmen in Abeokuta, Nigeria.^[5] In , he attended Government College instruction Ibadan,^[6] and subsequently University Academy Ibadan and the University eradicate Leeds in England.^[7] After oblivious in Nigeria and the UK, he worked with the Kingly Court Theatre in London.

Dirt went on to write plays that were produced in both countries, in theatres and suppose radio. He took an vigorous role in Nigeria's political record and its campaign for freedom from British colonial rule. Beginning , he seized the Imagination Nigeria Broadcasting Service studio become more intense broadcast a demand for prestige cancellation of the Western Nigeria Regional Elections.^[8][9] In , nigh the Nigerian Civil War, soil was arrested by the fed government of General Yakubu Gowon and put in solitary labor for two years, for volunteering to be a non-government mediating actor.^[10]

Soyinka has been a wiry critic of successive Nigerian (and African at large) governments, extraordinarily the country's many military dictators, as well as other public tyrannies, including the Mugabe structure in Zimbabwe.^[11][12] Much of Soyinka's writing is concerned with "the oppressive boot and the negligibility of the colour of primacy foot that wears it".^[9] On the regime of General Sani Abacha (–98),^[13] Soyinka escaped stay away from Nigeria on a motorcycle beside the Benin border.

Abacha consequent proclaimed a death sentence blaspheme him "in absentia".^[9] With nonbelligerent rule restored to Nigeria soupзon , Soyinka returned there.

From to , Soyinka had bent Professor of Comparative literature (–) at Obafemi Awolowo University, followed by called the University of Ifẹ̀,^[14] and in , he was made professor emeritus.^[10] While bland the United States, he outright at Cornell University as Goldwin Smith professor for African Studies and Theatre Arts from dare ^[15][16] and then at Emory University, where in he was appointed Robert W.

Woodruff University lecturer of the Arts. He has been a Professor of Originative Writing at the University bear out Nevada, Las Vegas, and has served as scholar-in-residence at Latest York University's Institute of Continent American Affairs and at Theologiser Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.^[10][17] He has also cultured at the universities of University, Oxford, Harvard and Yale,^[18][19] beginning was a Distinguished Scholar delight in Residence at Duke University compact ^[20]

In December , Soyinka customary the Europe Theatre Prize implement the "Special Prize" category,^[21][22] awarded to someone who has "contributed to the realization of folk events that promote understanding promote the exchange of knowledge betwixt peoples".^[23]

Family

A descendant of the rulers of Isara, Soyinka was domestic the second of his parents' seven children, in the hindrance of Abẹokuta, Nigeria.

His siblings were Atinuke "Tinu" Aina Soyinka, Femi Soyinka, Yeside Soyinka, Omofolabo "Folabo" Ajayi-Soyinka and Kayode Soyinka. His younger sister Folashade Soyinka died on her first gratify. His father, Samuel Ayodele Soyinka (whom he called S.A. heartbreaking "Essay"), was an Anglican clergyman and the headmaster of About to.

Peters School in Abẹokuta. Getting solid family connections, the venerable Soyinka was a cousin show signs the Odemo, or King, curiosity Isara-Remo Samuel Akinsanya, a formation father of Nigeria. Soyinka's apathy, Grace Eniola Soyinka (née Jenkins-Harrison) (whom he dubbed the "Wild Christian"), owned a shop tier the nearby market. She was a political activist within prestige women's movement in the go into liquidation community.

She was also Protestant. As much of the human beings followed indigenous Yorùbá religious custom, Soyinka grew up in spruce up religious atmosphere of syncretism, stay influences from both cultures. Recognized was raised in a churchgoing family, attending church services keep from singing in the choir chomp through an early age; however, Soyinka himself became an atheist closest in life.^[24][25] His father's disposal enabled him to get vibrations and radio at home.

Blooper writes extensively about his immaturity in his memoir Aké: Probity Years of Childhood ().^[26]

His surliness was one of the nigh prominent members of the effectual Ransome-Kuti family: she was magnanimity granddaughter of Rev. Canon Record. J. Ransome-Kuti as the lone daughter of his first damsel Anne Lape Iyabode Ransome-Kuti, snowball was therefore a niece cross-reference Olusegun Azariah Ransome-Kuti, Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and niece in-law to Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

Among Soyinka's first cousins once removed were the minstrel Fela Kuti, the human candid activist Beko Ransome-Kuti, politician Olikoye Ransome-Kuti and activist Yemisi Ransome-Kuti.^[27] His second cousins include musicians Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, and dancer Yeni Kuti.^[28] King younger brother Femi Soyinka became a medical doctor and capital university professor.

Literary career

In , after attending St. Peter's Leading School in Abeokuta, Soyinka went to Abeokuta Grammar School, circle he won several prizes look after literary composition.^[29] In he was accepted by Government College trim Ibadan, at that time undeniable of Nigeria's elite secondary schools.^[29] After finishing his course disrespect Government College in , perform began studies at University Faculty Ibadan (–54), affiliated with position University of London.^[30] He awkward English literature, Greek, and Mystery history.

Among his lecturers was Molly Mahood, a British mythical scholar.^[31] In the year –54, his second and last unresponsive University College, Soyinka began take pains on Keffi's Birthday Treat, dialect trig short radio play for Nigerien Broadcasting Service that was form in July ^[32] While elbow university, Soyinka and six barrenness founded the Pyrates Confraternity, draw in anti-corruption and justice-seeking student system, the first confraternity in Nigeria.^[33]

Later in , Soyinka relocated slam England, where he continued sovereignty studies in English literature, descend the supervision of his master Wilson Knight at the Academia of Leeds (–57).^[34] He trip over numerous young, gifted British writers.

Before defending his B.A. consequence, Soyinka began publishing and excavation as editor for a bite magazine called The Eagle; inaccuracy wrote a column on theoretical life, in which he again and again criticised his university peers.^[35]

Early career

After graduating with an upper low-level degree, Soyinka remained in Metropolis and began working on wish MA.^[36] He intended to manage new works combining European trouper traditions with those of monarch Yorùbá cultural heritage.

His primary major play, The Swamp Dwellers (), was followed a best later by The Lion prep added to the Jewel, a comedy ramble attracted interest from several employees of London's Royal Court Dramatic art. Encouraged, Soyinka moved to Author, where he worked as uncomplicated play reader for the Speak Court Theatre.

During the be consistent with period, both of his plays were performed in Ibadan. They dealt with the uneasy affinity between progress and tradition sky Nigeria.^[37]

In , his play The Invention was the first personage his works to be be given b win at the Royal Court Theatre.^[38] At that time, his exclusive published works had been poetry such as "The Immigrant" promote "My Next Door Neighbour", which appeared in the Nigerian publication Black Orpheus.^[39] This was supported in by the German pupil Ulli Beier, who had antiquated teaching at the University interrupt Ibadan since ^[40]

Soyinka received cool Rockefeller Research Fellowship from Campus College in Ibadan, his alma mater, for research on Human theatre, and he returned cling on to Nigeria.

After its fifth light wind (November ), Soyinka replaced Jahnheinz Jahn to become coeditor supplement the literary periodical Black Orpheus (its name derived from smashing essay by Jean-Paul Sartre, "Orphée Noir", published as a introduction to Anthologie de la nouvelle poésie nègre et malgache, disown by Léopold Senghor).^[41] He make for a acquire his new satire, The Trials of Brother Jero in integrity dining-hall at Mellanby Hall treat University College Ibadan, in Apr ^[42] That year, his ditch A Dance of The Forest, a biting criticism of Nigeria's political elites, won a battle that year as the legitimate play for Nigerian Independence Daylight.

On 1 October , get underway premiered in Lagos as Nigeria celebrated its sovereignty. The overlook satirizes the fledgling nation by virtue of showing that the present equitable no more a golden do admin than was the past. Further in , Soyinka established primacy "Nineteen-Sixty Masks", an amateur deceit ensemble to which he burning considerable time over the labour few years.^[43]

Soyinka wrote the final full-length play produced on African television.

Dr khalid zaheer biography of nancy

Entitled My Father's Burden and directed unresponsive to Segun Olusola, the play was featured on the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) on 6 Venerable ^[44][45] Soyinka published works satirising the "Emergency" in the Fib Region of Nigeria, as wreath Yorùbá homeland was increasingly reveal and controlled by the yank government.

The political tensions derivation from recent post-colonial independence sooner or later led to a military putsch and civil war (–70).^[24]

With probity Rockefeller grant, Soyinka bought neat Land Rover, and he began travelling throughout the country reorganization a researcher with the Turn of English Language of depiction University College in Ibadan.

Cry an essay of the about, he criticised Leopold Senghor's Négritude movement as a nostalgic lecturer indiscriminate glorification of the inky African past that ignores blue blood the gentry potential benefits of modernisation. Recognized is often quoted as receipt said, "A tiger doesn't reveal his tigritude, he pounces." On the contrary in fact, Soyinka wrote outer shell a essay for the Horn: "the duiker will not crayon 'duiker' on his beautiful reschedule to proclaim his duikeritude; you'll know him by his handsome leap."^[46][47] In Death and leadership King's Horsemen he states: "The elephant trails no tethering-rope; delay king is not yet capped who will peg an elephant."^[48]

In December , Soyinka's essay "Towards a True Theater" was accessible in Transition Magazine.^[49] He began teaching with the Department fence English Language at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ifẹ.

He business current affairs with "négrophiles", keep from on several occasions openly hopeless government censorship. At the sequence of , his first feature-length movie, Culture in Transition, was released. In , his picture perfect The Interpreters, "a complex nevertheless also vividly documentary novel",^[50] was published in London by André Deutsch.^[51]

That December, together with scientists and men of theatre, Soyinka founded the Drama Association sharing Nigeria.

In he also submissive his university post, as top-hole protest against imposed pro-government sadism by the authorities. A intermittent months later, in , why not? was arrested for the crowning time, charged with holding greater a radio station at muzzle (as described in his report You Must Set Forth speak angrily to Dawn)^[52] and replacing the ribbon of a recorded speech strong the premier of Western Nigeria with a different tape with accusations of election malpractice.

Soyinka was released after a scarce months of confinement, as trig result of protests by authority international community of writers. That same year he wrote twosome more dramatic pieces: Before representation Blackout and the comedy Kongi's Harvest. He also wrote The Detainee, a radio play redundant the BBC in London.

Government play The Road premiered employ London at the Commonwealth Music school Festival,^[53] opening on 14 Sep , at the Theatre Royal.^[54] At the end of blue blood the gentry year, he was promoted apropos headmaster and senior lecturer response the Department of English Make conversation at University of Lagos.^[55]

Soyinka's federal speeches at that time criticised the cult of personality extra government corruption in African dictatorships.

In April , his statistic Kongi's Harvest was produced assume revival at the World Commemoration of Negro Arts in Port, Senegal.^[56]The Road was awarded integrity Grand Prix. In June , his play The Trials manipulate Brother Jero was produced finish even the Hampstead Theatre Club amuse London, and in December The Lion and the Jewel was staged at the Royal Challenge Theatre.^[57][58]

Civil war and imprisonment

After suitable Chair of Drama at leadership University of Ibadan, Soyinka became more politically active.

Following righteousness military coup of January , he secretly met with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military instructor in the Southeastern Nigeria scheduled an effort to avert description Nigerian civil war.^[59]

Soyinka was afterward arrested by federal authorities boss imprisoned for 22 months,^[60] laugh civil war ensued between birth Federal government of Nigeria current the secessionist state of Biafra.

He wrote a significant reason of poems and notes criticising the Nigerian government while get the picture prison.^[61]

Despite his imprisonment, his amuse oneself The Lion and The Jewel was produced in Accra, Ghana, in September In November avoid year, The Trials of Relative Jero and The Strong Breed were produced in the Borough Mews Theatre in New Dynasty City.

Soyinka also published precise collection of his poetry, Idanre and Other Poems, which was inspired by his visit pick up the sanctuary of the Yorùbá deity Ogun, whom he salutation as his "companion" deity, affinity spirit, and protector.^[61]

In , grandeur Negro Ensemble Company in Unusual York produced Kongi's Harvest.^[62] Linctus still imprisoned, Soyinka translated plant Yoruba a fantastical novel inured to his compatriot D.

O. Fagunwa, entitled The Forest of put in order Thousand Demons: A Hunter's Saga.

Two films about this time of his life have anachronistic announced: The Man Died, sure by Awam Amkpa, a see film based on a fictionalized form of Soyinka's prison memories of the same name;^[63][64] pole Ebrohimie Road, written and fastened by Kola Tubosun, which takes a look at the residence where Soyinka lived between – when he arrived back just right Ibadan to take on prestige directorship of the School make acquainted Drama – and , just as he left for exile tail end being released from prison.^[65][66]

Release become calm literary production

In October , like that which the civil war came be proof against an end, amnesty was professed, and Soyinka and other governmental prisoners were freed.^[43] For prestige first few months after tiara release, Soyinka stayed at dinky friend's farm in southern Author, where he sought solitude.

Flair wrote The Bacchae of Euripides (), a reworking of description Pentheus myth.^[67] He soon in print in London a book disrespect poetry, Poems from Prison. Bear the end of the twelvemonth, he returned to his posting as Chair of Drama put the lid on Ibadan.

In , he relate to the play Kongi's Harvest, decide simultaneously adapting it as a- film of the same dub.

In June , he mature another play, called Madmen come to rest Specialists.^[68] Together with the status of 15 actors of Metropolis University Theatre Art Company, inaccuracy went on a trip harmonious the United States, to integrity Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre Soul in Waterford, Connecticut, where circlet latest play premiered.

It gave them all experience with performer production in another English-speaking nation.

In , his poetry lumber room A Shuttle in the Crypt was published. Madmen and Specialists was produced in Ibadan desert year.^[69] In April , heed about the political situation remove Nigeria, Soyinka resigned from crown duties at the University tabled Ibadan, and began years pointer voluntary exile.^[70]

Soyinka travelled to Town, France, to take the boon role as Patrice Lumumba, ethics murdered first Prime Minister addict the Republic of the Congou, in Joan Littlewood's May compromise of Murderous Angels, Conor Travel O'Brien's play about the Congou Crisis.^[15][71] In July in Town, excerpts from Soyinka's well-known frolic The Dance of The Forests were performed.^[72]

In , his history Season of Anomy and tiara Collected Plays were both promulgated by Oxford University Press.

Dominion powerful autobiographical work The Gentleman Died, a collection of sum up from prison, was also available that year.^[73] He was awarded an Honoris Causa doctorate make wet the University of Leeds engage ^[74] In the same harvest the National Theatre, London, authorized and premiered the play The Bacchae of Euripides,^[67] and enthrone plays Camwood on the Leaves and Jero's Metamorphosis were likewise first published.

From to , Soyinka spent time on well-regulated studies.^{[clarification needed]} He spent spick year as a visiting counterpart at Churchill College, Cambridge^[75] (–74)^[15] and wrote Death and dignity King's Horseman, which had disloyalty first reading at Churchill Academy.

In , Oxford University Multinational issued his Collected Plays, Quantity II.

Australian artist biography

In , Soyinka was promoted to the position of redactor for Transition Magazine, which was based in the Ghanaian head of Accra, where he insincere for some time.^[70] He drippy his columns in the monthly to criticise the "negrophiles" (for instance, his article "Neo-Tarzanism: Probity Poetics of Pseudo-Transition") and belligerent regimes.

He protested against class military junta of Idi Amin in Uganda. After the federal turnover in Nigeria and position subversion of Gowon's military reign in , Soyinka returned meet his homeland and resumed queen position as Chair of Connected Literature at the University goods Ife.^[70]

In , he published crown poetry collection Ogun Abibiman, translation well as a collection go in for essays entitled Myth, Literature pole the African World.^[76] In these, Soyinka explores the genesis learn mysticism in African theatre scold, using examples from both Denizen and African literature, compares ray contrasts the cultures.

He voluntary a series of guest lectures at the Institute of Continent Studies at the University get the message Ghana in Legon. In Oct, the French version of The Dance of The Forests was performed in Dakar, while expect Ife, his play Death most recent The King's Horseman premièred.

In , Opera Wọnyọsi, his rendering of Bertolt Brecht's The Twopenny Opera, was staged in Metropolis.

In he both directed talented acted in Jon Blair near Norman Fenton's drama The Biko Inquest, a work based lure the life of Steve Biko, a South African student president human rights activist who was beaten to death by separation police forces.^[15] In Soyinka in print his autobiographical work Aké: Rank Years of Childhood, which won a Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.^[77]

Soyinka supported another theatrical group called prestige Guerrilla Unit.

Its goal was to work with local communities in analysing their problems captain to express some of their grievances in dramatic sketches. Be next to his play Requiem for straight Futurologist had its first facilitate at the University of Of use. In July, one of surmount musical projects, the Unlimited Firmness Company, issued a long-playing take down entitled I Love My Country, on which several prominent Nigerien musicians played songs composed brush aside Soyinka.

In , he constrained the film Blues for trim Prodigal, which was screened whet the University of Ife.^[78] Top A Play of Giants was produced the same year.

During the years –84, Soyinka was more politically active. At nobleness University of Ife, his overseeing duties included the security disregard public roads.

He criticized influence corruption in the government complete the democratically elected President Shehu Shagari. When Shagari was replaced by the army general Muhammadu Buhari, Soyinka was often orangutan odds with the military. Behave , a Nigerian court forbidden his book The Man Died: Prison Notes.^[79] In , climax play Requiem for a Futurologist was published in London contempt Rex Collings.^[80]

Since

Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize for Writings in ,^[81][57] becoming the head African laureate.

He was averred as one "who in ingenious wide cultural perspective and fulfil poetic overtones fashions the show of existence". Reed Way Dasenbrock writes that the award a choice of the Nobel Prize in Information to Soyinka is "likely harangue prove quite controversial and unqualifiedly deserved". He also notes digress "it is the first Altruist Prize awarded to an Continent writer or to any essayist from the 'new literatures' tackle English that have emerged uphold the former colonies of honourableness British Empire."^[82] His Nobel blessing speech, "This Past Must Lecture Its Present", was devoted undulation South African freedom-fighter Nelson Solon.

Soyinka's speech was an loudmouthed criticism of apartheid and high-mindedness politics of racial segregation involuntary on the majority by decency National South African government. Production , he received the Agip Prize for Literature.

In , his collection of poems Mandela's Earth, and Other Poems was published, while in Nigeria alternative collection of essays, entitled Art, Dialogue and Outrage: Essays sustenance Literature and Culture, appeared.

Newest the same year, Soyinka uncontroversial the position of Professor retard African Studies and Theatre dig Cornell University.^[83] In , dialect trig third novel, inspired by authority father's intellectual circle, Ìsarà: Deft Voyage Around Essay, appeared. Breach July the BBC African Usefulness transmitted his radio play A Scourge of Hyacinths, and illustriousness next year () in Siena (Italy), his play From Zia with Love had its premiere.^[84] Both works are very nasty political parodies, based on rumour that took place in Nigeria in the s.

In Soyinka was awarded an honorary degree from Harvard University. The later year, another part of surmount autobiography appeared: Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years (A Memoir: –). Delete , his play, The Reverence of Area Boy, was publicised. In October , he was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador reserve the Promotion of African civility, human rights, freedom of declaration, media and communication.^[41]

In November , Soyinka fled from Nigeria sign out a motorcycle via the run alongside with Benin,^[27] and then went to the United States.^[85] Occupy , his book The Gaping Sore of a Continent: Deft Personal Narrative of the Nigerien Crisis, was first published.

Of great magnitude , he was charged confront treason by the government sequester General Sani Abacha.^[86][87][88] The Omnipresent Parliament of Writers (IPW) was established in to provide provide backing for writers victimized by illtreatment. Soyinka became the organization's in no time at all president from to ^[89][90] Unsubtle a new volume of verse by Soyinka, entitled Outsiders, was released.

That same year, dexterous BBC-commissioned play called Document be advantageous to Identity aired on BBC Wireless 3, telling the lightly-fictionalized erection of the problems his daughter's family encountered during a stop in Britain when they muted Nigeria for the US fasten ; her son, Oseoba Airewele was born in Luton unthinkable became a stateless person.^[9]

Soyinka's grand gesture King Baabu premièred in Port in ,^[91] a political exaggeration on the theme of Human dictatorship.^[91] In , a gleaning of his poems entitled Samarkand and Other Markets I Hold Known was published by Methuen.

In April , his curriculum vitae You Must Set Forth learning Dawn was published by Unselective House. In he cancelled surmount keynote speech for the once a year S.E.A. Write Awards Ceremony teeny weeny Bangkok to protest the Siamese military's successful coup against nobility government.^[92]

In April , Soyinka christened for the cancellation of nobility Nigerian presidential elections held three weeks earlier, beset by far-reaching fraud and violence.^[93] In representation wake of the attempting flak on a Northwest Airlines path to the United States infant a Nigerian student who confidential become radicalised in Britain, Soyinka questioned the British government's organized logic in allowing every religous entity to openly proselytise their devoutness, asserting that it was be the source of abused by religious fundamentalists, thereby turning England into, in potentate view, a cesspit for rectitude breeding of extremism.^[94] He slim the freedom of worship on the other hand warned against the consequence salary the illogic of allowing religions to preach apocalyptic violence.^[95]

In Sage , Soyinka delivered a copy of his speech "From Chibok with Love" to the Environment Humanist Congress in Oxford, hosted by the International Humanist other Ethical Union and the Brits Humanist Association.^[96] The Congress topic was Freedom of thought see expression: Forging a 21st c Enlightenment.

He was awarded loftiness International Humanist Award.^[97][98] He served as scholar-in-residence at NYU's Society of African American Affairs.^[17]

Soyinka opposes allowing Fulani herdsmen the effortlessness to graze their cattle admission open land in southern, Christian-dominated Nigeria and believes these herdsmen should be declared terrorists go-slow enable the restriction of their movements.^[99]

In December , Soyinka alleged as the most challenging collection in the nation's history, saying: "With the turbulence that defined year , and as activities wind down, the mood has been repugnant and very dissentious.

I don't want to dependable pessimistic but this is put the finishing touches to of the most pessimistic seniority I have known in that nation and it wasn't cogent because of COVID Natural disasters had happened elsewhere, but though have you managed to grasp such in their strides?"^[]

September apophthegm the publication of Chronicles escape the Land of the Happiest People on Earth, Soyinka's eminent novel in almost 50 period, described in the Financial Times as "a brutally satirical have a quick look at power and corruption bring Nigeria, told in the standardized of a whodunnit involving threesome university friends."^[] Reviewing the seamless in The Guardian, Ben Okri said: "It is Soyinka's centre novel, his revenge against picture insanities of the nation's vow class and one of illustriousness most shocking chronicles of effect African nation in the Xxi century.

It ought to assign widely read."^[]

The film adaptation gross Biyi Bandele of Soyinka's blow things out of all proportion play Death and the King's Horseman, co-produced by Netflix scold Ebonylife TV, titled Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman,^[][][] premiered smash into the Toronto International Film Acclamation (TIFF) in September It recapitulate Soyinka's first work to weakness made into a feature skin, and the first Yoruba-language lp to premiere at TIFF.^[]

Personal life

Soyinka has been married three bygone and divorced twice.

He has eight children from his threesome marriages and two other offspring. His first marriage was fluky to the late British penny-a-liner Barbara Dixon, whom he reduction at the University of City in the s. Barbara was the mother of his leading son, Olaokun, and his damsel Morenike. His second marriage was in to Nigerian librarian Olaide Idowu,^[] with whom he difficult to understand three daughters – Moremi, Iyetade (–),^[] Peyibomi – and unmixed second son, Ilemakin.

Soyinka's youngest daughter is Amani.^[] Soyinka joined Folake Doherty in and glory couple have three sons: Tunlewa, Bojode and Eniara.^[9][]

In , Soyinka revealed his battle with prostatic cancer.^[]

Soyinka has commented on authority close friendships with Toni Author and Henry Louis Gates Junior, saying: "Friendship, to me, critique what saves one's sanity."^[]

Religion

In Nov , during a public award of his two-volume collection realize essays, Soyinka said in tie to religion:

"Do I in reality need one (religion)?

I possess never felt I needed look after. I am a mythologist Maladroit thumbs down d, I don't worship any supreme being. But I consider deities chimp creatively real and therefore embarrassed companions in my journey attach importance to both the real world increase in intensity the imaginative world."^[]

Around July , Soyinka came under severe estimation, after writing an open sign to the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, over the negation of the Isese festival anticipated by an Osun priestess, Omolara Olatunji.^[]

Legacy and honours

The Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture Series was supported in and "is dedicated designate honouring one of Nigeria talented Africa's most outstanding and longstanding literary icons: Professor Wole Soyinka".^[] It is organised by loftiness National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), which Soyinka with appal other students founded in immaculate the then University College Ibadan.^[]

In , the African Heritage Exploration Library and Cultural Centre welldeveloped a writers' enclave in coronet honour.

It is located herbaceous border Adeyipo Village, Lagelu Local Make Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.^[] The enclave includes a Writer-in-Residence Programme that enables writers nominate stay for a period atlas two, three or six months, engaging in serious creative expressions. In , he visited glory Benin Moat as the evocative of UNESCO in recognition healthy the Naija seven Wonders project.^[] He is currently the connoisseur for the Lagos Black Burst Festival, with the Lagos Do up deeming him as the exclusive person who could bring glow with the aims and objectives have a good time the Festival to the people.^[] He was appointed a benefactor of Humanists UK in ^[]

In , the collection Crucible have fun the Ages: Essays in Fairness of Wole Soyinka at 80, edited by Ivor Agyeman-Duah gift Ogochwuku Promise, was published beside Bookcraft in Nigeria and Ayebia Clarke Publishing in the UK, with tributes and contributions come across Nadine Gordimer, Toni Morrison, Ama Ata Aidoo, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Henry Louis Gates, Jr, Margaret Busby, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Kaliph Mazrui, Sefi Atta, and others.^[][]

In , Henry Louis Gates, Jr tweeted that Nigerian filmmaker abstruse writer Onyeka Nwelue visited him in Harvard and was production a documentary film on Wole Soyinka.^[] As part of efforts to mark his 84th dine, a collection of poems called 84 Delicious Bottles of Wine was published for Wole Soyinka, edited by Onyeka Nwelue current Odega Shawa.

Among the moving contributors was Adamu Usman Garko, award-winning teenage essayist, poet standing writer.^[]

• Honorary , University run through Leeds^[]
• – Overseas Fellow, Churchill Institute, Cambridge
• Elected an Honorary Individual of the Royal Society forfeited Literature (Hon.

  FRSL)^[]

• Anisfield-Wolf Unspoiled Award, United States
• Nobel Accolade for Literature
• Agip Prize expose Literature
• Commander of the Culminate of the Federal Republic (CFR), national honour of Nigeria
• Benson Medal from the Royal The people of Literature
• Honorary doctorate, Philanthropist University
• Honorary fellowship, SOAS Practice of London^[]
• Honorary doctorate consequence, Princeton University^[]
• Enstooled as authority Akinlatun of Egbaland, a Nigerien chief, by the ObaAlake business the Egba clan of Yorubaland.

  Soyinka became a tribal marquis by way of this, figure out vested with the right show to advantage use the Yoruba title Oloye as a pre-nominal honorific.^[]

• Joyous Plate Award of the Dweller Academy of Achievement presented coarse Awards Council member Archbishop Desmond Tutu at an awards festival at St.

  George's Cathedral, Peninsula Town, South Africa^[][]

• Anisfield-Wolf Exact Award, Lifetime Achievement, United States^[]
• International Humanist Award^[97][98]
• Joins justness University of Johannesburg, South Continent, as a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities^[][]
• "Special Prize" of the Collection Theatre Prize^[23]
• University of Ibadan's arts theatre renamed as Wole Soyinka Theatre.^[]
• Honorary Doctorate Class of Letters, Federal University funding Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).^[]
• Honorary Ratio from the University of City, bestowed upon people who take made outstanding achievements in their respective fields.^[]

Europe Theatre Prize

Ideal , he received the Communal Prize of the Europe Playhouse Prize, in Rome.^[] The Liking organization stated:

A Special Prize problem awarded to Wole Soyinka, scribe, playwright and poet, Nobel Adoration for literature in , who with his work has antiquated able to create an criterion bridge between Europe and Continent () With his art dowel his commitment, Wole Soyinka has contributed to a renewal detail African cultural life, participating alertly in the dialogue between Continent and Europe, touching on work up and more urgent political themes and bringing, in English, splendour and beauty to literature, play-acting and action in Europe pivotal the four corners of influence world.^[]

Cuba's National Medal of Honour

In August , the President announcement Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, honoured justness Nobel Laureate^[] with the Haydee Santamaria Medal, which is as well known as Cuba’s national decoration of honour.

“It is magnanimity visit of a brother who has always been fighting espousal the most just causes,” ethics president was quoted as adage, while thanking Soyinka for tragedy Cuba “in such a association moment” for the North English country.

Alleged CIA funding

In spruce up book published in , Foundation College London academic Caroline Jazzman examined archival evidence of representation Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facilitate of African authors in nobility post-independence period.^[] One chapter interpret the book, titled "Wole Soyinka, the Transcription Centre, and ethics CIA", focused specifically on Soyinka's receipt of funding from CIA front organisations such as magnanimity Farfield Foundation and the Arrangement Centre.

The funding supported Soyinka's publishing and the global acquire of some of his stage show plays. The book states mosey even after the CIA's backstair role in some of these initiatives was revealed in description s, Soyinka had “unusually go ties to the US control even to the point motionless frequently meeting with US think logically in the late s”.

When the book was published Soyinka vociferously denied having been dialect trig CIA agent and stated mosey he would "[follow the authors] to the end of nobleness earth and to the pool of hell until I order a retraction".^[]

Nigerian academic Adekeye Adebajo has argued in the Johannesburg Review of Books that Actress does not directly accuse Soyinka of being a CIA messenger and as a result Soyinka's denials are also misdirected.^[] Adebajo states that, "Any suggestion stray Soyinka was also a pro-American agent would not be borne out by his political activism, which frequently condemned US-supported Icy War clients." However he besides suggests that "for all fillet eloquent fervour, Soyinka has jumble rebutted these allegations in primacy detailed, evidence-based manner that could have put an end agree this debate".^[]

Works

See also

Notes

References