Wole Soyinka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wole Soyinka
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Soyinka in 2018
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Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka
13 July 1934 Abeokuta, British Nigeria
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| Occupation | Novelist, playwright, poet |
Wole Soyinka (born 13 July 1934) is a famous Nigerian author. He is well-known for his plays and poems. He has written many books, including novels, short stories, and poetry collections. He also wrote many plays and articles for newspapers. Many people see him as one of Africa's greatest writers. He is also considered one of the world's most important playwrights.
In 1986, he won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. He received this award for his "wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence." This means his writing showed a deep understanding of different cultures. It also used beautiful language to describe life's experiences.
Many of Soyinka's stories and plays are set in Nigeria. He often used humor and satire to share his ideas with many people. His successful plays include The Swamp Dwellers (1958) and The Lion and the Jewel (1959). He also wrote novels like The Interpreters (1965) and Season of Anomy (1973). In July 2024, the National Arts Theatre in Nigeria was renamed after him. This was done to celebrate his 90th birthday.
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Wole Soyinka's Early Life and Education
Wole Soyinka was born on 13 July 1934, in Aké, Abeokuta, Nigeria. His family was Yoruba and Christian. His father, Samuel Ayodele Soyinka, was a school headmaster. His mother, Grace Soyinka, was a shopkeeper and an activist. Wole was the second of seven children.
He attended St. Peters Primary School, where his father was the headmaster. Later, he went to Abeokuta Grammar School for his secondary education. He then studied at Government College, Ibadan. From 1952 to 1954, he studied English, Greek, and history at the University College Ibadan. While there, he wrote a short radio play called Keffi's Birthday Treat. He also helped start the National Association of Seadogs. This was the first student group of its kind in Nigeria.
In 1954, Soyinka moved to England to continue his studies. He attended the University of Leeds and graduated in 1958. At Leeds, he was the editor of the university's magazine, The Eagle. He also started recording for the BBC Lecture series. He wrote many short stories and won an oratory competition.
Soyinka's Writing Journey and Famous Works
After finishing his studies, Soyinka stayed in Leeds. He wrote and published his first play, The Swamp Dwellers, in 1958. A year later, he published The Lion and the Jewel. This play was a comedy and became very popular. It led him to move to London. There, he worked for the Royal Court Theatre. Many of his early plays were performed there.
His plays often explored the challenges between old traditions and new progress in Nigeria. In 1957, his play The Invention was performed at the Royal Court Theatre. He also wrote poems like "The Immigrant."
Soyinka returned to Nigeria after receiving a special research grant. He continued to write and produce plays. In 1960, his play A Dance of The Forest became the official play for Nigeria's Independence Day. It premiered in Lagos on 1 October 1960. He also directed his first full-length movie, Culture in Transition, in 1963.
In 1965, his novel The Interpreters was published. He also helped create the Drama Association of Nigeria. Soyinka often spoke out against government actions. In 1965, he was arrested for his activism. He was held for several months but was released after many writers around the world protested. During this time, he wrote more plays like Before the Blackout and Kongi's Harvest.
Soyinka's Political Activism and Imprisonment
Wole Soyinka became more involved in politics after becoming a professor at the University of Ibadan. He tried to prevent the Nigerian Civil War by meeting with leaders. However, the war began, and he was arrested by the government. He was imprisoned for 22 months. While in prison, he wrote many poems and notes criticizing the Nigerian government.
Even while he was in prison, his plays continued to be performed. The Lion and The Jewel was produced in Ghana in 1967. His other plays, The Trials of Brother Jero and The Strong Breed, were performed in New York City. He also published a poetry collection called Idanre and Other Poems. This collection was inspired by the Yoruba deity Ogun, whom Soyinka considers a guiding spirit.
In 1968, his play Kongi's Harvest was produced in New York. While still in prison, he translated a Yoruba novel called The Forest of a Thousand Demons: A Hunter's Saga.
Release from Prison and Continued Writing
In October 1969, after the civil war ended, Soyinka was freed. He spent some time in France, where he wrote The Bacchae of Euripides. He also published a book of poetry called Poems from Prison. He then returned to his teaching position in Ibadan.
In 1970, he produced his play Kongi's Harvest and adapted it into a film. He also finished another play, Madmen and Specialists. In 1971, his poetry collection A Shuttle in the Crypt was published. Concerned about Nigeria's political situation, Soyinka resigned from his university job in 1971. He then lived outside Nigeria for several years.
During this time, he traveled to Paris and acted in a play. In 1972, his novel Season of Anomy and his Collected Plays were published. His powerful book The Man Died, which contained notes from his time in prison, was also published. In 1973, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Leeds. He also wrote Death and the King's Horseman.
From 1973 to 1975, Soyinka focused on academic studies. He was a visiting scholar at Churchill College, Cambridge. In 1975, he became the editor for Transition Magazine in Ghana. He used his articles to criticize military governments. After a change in government in Nigeria, Soyinka returned home. He resumed his teaching role at the University of Ife.
In 1976, he published his poetry collection Ogun Abibiman. He also published essays called Myth, Literature and the African World. In these essays, he explored the origins of African theatre. He compared African and European literature.
Soyinka founded a theatre group called the Guerrilla Unit. This group worked with local communities. They used dramatic sketches to highlight people's problems and concerns. In 1983, his play Requiem for a Futurologist was performed. He also released a music album called I Love My Country. In 1984, he directed the film Blues for a Prodigal.
During these years, Soyinka was very active in politics. He criticized corruption in the government. He often disagreed with military leaders.
Nobel Prize and Later Years
In 1986, Wole Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was the first African writer to receive this honor. The Nobel committee praised him for his "wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence." In his acceptance speech, he spoke about Nelson Mandela and criticized apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation.
In 1988, his poetry collection Mandela's Earth, and Other Poems was published. He also became a professor at Cornell University in the United States. In 1989, his novel Ìsarà: A Voyage Around Essay was released. In 1993, he received another honorary doctorate from Harvard University.
In 1994, Soyinka was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He promoted African culture, human rights, and freedom of expression. In November 1994, he had to leave Nigeria. He went to the United States. In 1997, he was accused of treason by the government. He became the president of the International Parliament of Writers. This group supports writers who face persecution.
In 2001, his play King Baabu premiered in Lagos. It was a political satire about African dictatorships. In 2006, his memoir You Must Set Forth at Dawn was published. In April 2007, Soyinka called for new Nigerian presidential elections. He said the previous elections had many problems.
In 2014, Soyinka gave a speech called "From Chibok with Love" at the World Humanist Congress. He was given the 2014 International Humanist Award. In December 2020, he described that year as one of the most challenging for Nigeria.
In September 2021, Soyinka published Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth. This was his first novel in almost 50 years. It is a satirical look at power and corruption in Nigeria. Many critics praised it as one of his greatest novels.
In 2022, a film adaptation of his 1975 play Death and the King's Horseman was released. The film, titled Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was the first of Soyinka's works to be made into an international feature film. It was also the first Yoruba-language film to premiere at that festival.
Awards and Honors
Wole Soyinka has received many awards and honors throughout his life.
- In 1983 and 2013, he won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.
- In 1986, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He also received the Agip Prize for Literature.
- He was given the title of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government.
- He holds the Yoruba title Oloye, which is a traditional honor.
- In 2005, he was given a chieftaincy title as the "Akinlatun" of Egbaland.
- He received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- In 2017, he received the Special Prize category of the Europe Theatre Prize.
- In 2018, his former university, the University of Ibadan, renamed its arts theatre the Wole Soyinka Theatre.
- In August 2024, the President of Cuba honored Soyinka with the Haydée Santamaría medal.
See also
In Spanish: Wole Soyinka para niños
