Wole Soyinka is well known throughout
Nigeria and the rest of the world as a
brilliant playwright, poet and political
activist. With more than 50 pieces of
work, his writing includes novels, memoirs
and a wide variety of essays. He is the
first person in Africa to win the Nobel
Prize in literature, and is respected for
his willingness to speak out against
repression and corruption. But beyond all
of that, there are still many things you
may not know about Wole Soyinka.
Though his father was an Anglican minister,
Wole was an atheist
Wole’s father, Samuel Ayodele Soyinka,
(whom he called S.A. or “Essay”) was an
Anglican minister and headmaster of St.
Peters School in Abẹokuta. His mother,
Grace Eniola Soyinka, owned a market
shop, was active in the women’s movement
in her community and also was a
practicing Anglican. Wole, on the other
hand, was an atheist. His beliefs
contributed greatly to his writing.
He’s got some pretty influential family
members
Wole’s mother, Grace, was a member of
the Ransome-Kuti family, known for its
contributions to Nigerian art, religion,
education, medicine and politics. His
cousins include activists Beko Ransome-
Kuti and Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, musician
Fela Kuti, and Health Minister Olikoye
Ransome-Kuti.
He helped found the first confraternity in
Nigeria
While pursuing a degree in English
literature, Greek, and Western history at
University College in Ibadan, Wole helped
found the Pyrates Confraternity with six
others. It was built as an anti-corruption
and justice-seeking student organization,
themes that would play into much of his
later work.
He’s been arrested multiple times
Before he was famously arrested during
the civil war in Nigeria, he was imprisoned
in 1964 after being accused of making
political radio broadcasts disputing
published election results.
Despite imprisonment, Soyinka was wildly
productive, writing and producing several
plays
Some of Wole’s most famous works were
written during his 22-month
imprisonment. He smuggled in materials
such as books, pens and paper. Much of
his work at this time, unsurprisingly, was
focused on criticizing the Nigerian
government that was restricting his
freedom.
Wole went into voluntary exile amid concerns
over the political situation in Nigeria
After resigning from his professorial
duties at the University of Ibadan in April
1971, he spent five years of voluntary
exile in Europe. During this time, he
worked as the editor of “Transition,”
Nigeria’s leading intellectual journal.
He has been married three times and
divorced twice
He has been married to his third and
current wife, Adefolake Soyinka, since
1989 and has three children with her (he
also has children by his other wives).
Adefolake is a former student of Wole’s.
He has never been afraid to criticize other
nations or his own
Wole is well known for making contentious
statements against other nations,
including European nations where he lived
in exile. It demonstrates his commitment
to exposing injustice regardless of the
location, and his willingness to make
unpopular moves.
In Nigeria, he is considered a political
activist first and a playwright second
Despite his amazing body of work, Wole’s
long history of criticizing the Nigerian
government and taking action against
corruption are among his greatest
legacies. He remains an influence on
writers and activists in Nigeria and across
the world.
He has been named Commander of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
This is a Nigerian honor first established
in 1964 people who served and benefited
Nigeria. Soyinka was awarded in 1986, the
same year he won the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
Source: afkinsider.com
Nigeria and the rest of the world as a
brilliant playwright, poet and political
activist. With more than 50 pieces of
work, his writing includes novels, memoirs
and a wide variety of essays. He is the
first person in Africa to win the Nobel
Prize in literature, and is respected for
his willingness to speak out against
repression and corruption. But beyond all
of that, there are still many things you
may not know about Wole Soyinka.
Though his father was an Anglican minister,
Wole was an atheist
Wole’s father, Samuel Ayodele Soyinka,
(whom he called S.A. or “Essay”) was an
Anglican minister and headmaster of St.
Peters School in Abẹokuta. His mother,
Grace Eniola Soyinka, owned a market
shop, was active in the women’s movement
in her community and also was a
practicing Anglican. Wole, on the other
hand, was an atheist. His beliefs
contributed greatly to his writing.
He’s got some pretty influential family
members
Wole’s mother, Grace, was a member of
the Ransome-Kuti family, known for its
contributions to Nigerian art, religion,
education, medicine and politics. His
cousins include activists Beko Ransome-
Kuti and Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, musician
Fela Kuti, and Health Minister Olikoye
Ransome-Kuti.
He helped found the first confraternity in
Nigeria
While pursuing a degree in English
literature, Greek, and Western history at
University College in Ibadan, Wole helped
found the Pyrates Confraternity with six
others. It was built as an anti-corruption
and justice-seeking student organization,
themes that would play into much of his
later work.
He’s been arrested multiple times
Before he was famously arrested during
the civil war in Nigeria, he was imprisoned
in 1964 after being accused of making
political radio broadcasts disputing
published election results.
Despite imprisonment, Soyinka was wildly
productive, writing and producing several
plays
Some of Wole’s most famous works were
written during his 22-month
imprisonment. He smuggled in materials
such as books, pens and paper. Much of
his work at this time, unsurprisingly, was
focused on criticizing the Nigerian
government that was restricting his
freedom.
Wole went into voluntary exile amid concerns
over the political situation in Nigeria
After resigning from his professorial
duties at the University of Ibadan in April
1971, he spent five years of voluntary
exile in Europe. During this time, he
worked as the editor of “Transition,”
Nigeria’s leading intellectual journal.
He has been married three times and
divorced twice
He has been married to his third and
current wife, Adefolake Soyinka, since
1989 and has three children with her (he
also has children by his other wives).
Adefolake is a former student of Wole’s.
He has never been afraid to criticize other
nations or his own
Wole is well known for making contentious
statements against other nations,
including European nations where he lived
in exile. It demonstrates his commitment
to exposing injustice regardless of the
location, and his willingness to make
unpopular moves.
In Nigeria, he is considered a political
activist first and a playwright second
Despite his amazing body of work, Wole’s
long history of criticizing the Nigerian
government and taking action against
corruption are among his greatest
legacies. He remains an influence on
writers and activists in Nigeria and across
the world.
He has been named Commander of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
This is a Nigerian honor first established
in 1964 people who served and benefited
Nigeria. Soyinka was awarded in 1986, the
same year he won the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
Source: afkinsider.com
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