Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has shared insights about the challenges he faced after becoming the first sub-Saharan African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka discussed how his recognition not only brought accolades but also considerable risks, particularly in his home country of Nigeria.
Awarded for his “wide cultural perspective and… poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence,” Soyinka emphasized that his active involvement in Nigeria’s political landscape placed him at odds with the ruling powers. This tension, he explained, heightened his sense of vulnerability. “I felt isolated when I won the Nobel Laureate and I felt much relieved when another African won it,” he remarked, highlighting the immense expectations thrust upon him as a result of his newfound status.
Soyinka articulated the complexities of being a public figure in a turbulent political climate, stating, “At the same time, especially in a society like ours, it exposes you more.” His commitment to his beliefs, he asserted, did not waver despite the dangers he faced. “So it exposes me also to very great danger because I refuse to back down on my beliefs and activities simply because I became a Nobel Laureate,” he said.
Reflecting on the past, Soyinka recalled the oppressive regime of former dictator Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998. He pointed out the gravity of the situation, saying, “I always remind people that the most brutal dictator we ever had here, Sani Abacha, would have gone to his grave a happy man if he hanged a Nobel laureate.” Soyinka underscored the real threat to his life, recalling how he had to flee Nigeria on a motorcycle during Abacha’s regime.
During his time in exile, Abacha issued a death sentence against Soyinka ‘in absentia,’ a chilling testament to the risks he encountered. Soyinka returned to Nigeria in 1999, following the restoration of democracy, yet the scars of that era remain deeply etched in his memory.
As he approaches his 90th birthday, Soyinka reflected on how he celebrates this personal milestone. “Well, that’s the annoying thing. I don’t feel 90,” he said, explaining his indifference to traditional celebrations. Instead, he prefers solitude, stating, “Usually, what I do on my birthdays is disappear into the forest. That is my normal way of spending birthdays.”
