By Tunde Abatan
Since he came into national prominence in the 60s shortly after the country’s independence, Professor Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka has remained a constant star in the fight for justice, fairplay and societal good.
For him,justice is the first condition of humanity.
In his struggles for a better society,he has done so at personal risks to his life and remained in the trenches even after he won the prestigious Nobel prize for Literature in 1986 which he devoted to imprisoned Nelson Mandela who layer became South Africas first black President under majority rule.
He wrote a poem Mandelas earth.
Not done,Soyinka was in the forefront of the struggle to deannul the 1993 June 12 Presidential election which crusade he carried all over the world and remained in exile until the military junta led by self- styled military President General Ibrahim Babangida and his military successor late General Sani Abacha died in office.
Soyinka returned to Nigeria from exile in 1998 and since then has continued to be a vocal voice in the clamor for the Restructuring of the country to true federalism after return to civilian rule.
Here are some hidden facts you never knew about him:
👉He was born into a family of educators. His father was a school headmaster, while his mother was a respected teacher and activist known as “Wild Christian.”
👉He secretly seized a radio station in 1965. During the Western Region political crisis, he entered a broadcasting station in Ibadan and replaced a recorded political speech with his own message calling for the true election results to be respected.
👉He spent about 22 months in solitary confinement. During the Nigerian Civil War, he was imprisoned without trial after attempting to mediate between the federal government and Biafran leaders.
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👉He wrote on scraps of paper in prison. Many of his prison notes were written on tissue paper, cigarette packs, and other materials that could be hidden from prison authorities.
👉His middle name is “Akinwande.” His full name is Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka.
👉He founded a theatre company while still a young man. He established the “1960 Masks,” which later evolved into the Orisun Theatre Company.
Soyinka @90
Soyinka and Gowon,the former head of state Who imprisoned him for thirty months
Soyinka boarding the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge train
👉He has declined national honours. Soyinka has, at different times, turned down some state honours, saying he preferred to remain independent of political power.
👉He once escaped Nigeria through difficult routes during military rule. After being accused of treason during the dictatorship of Sani Abacha, he fled the country and lived in exile.
👉He is also an accomplished translator. Besides writing original works, he translated classic Yoruba literature and Greek tragedies into English.
👉He has taught at universities on three continents. His academic career has taken him to institutions in Africa, Europe, and North America.
👉He is a good cook and loves preparing food for his family.
👉His memoir of childhood is one of his most accessible books. Aké: The Years of Childhood offers a vivid picture of growing up in colonial Nigeria and is considered one of the finest autobiographies by an African writer.
👉He has survived multiple assassination threats. His outspoken criticism of dictatorships and authoritarian governments has exposed him to significant personal risk over the decades.
👉He has remained active into his 90s. Even in advanced age, Soyinka continues to write, lecture, publish essays, and comment on national and global affairs.
Here’s wishing our ‘Kogi’ long life in good health.
ℹ️Ethnic African Stories and Agency reports
