- Flood of tributes for Nobel laureate at 90
President Bola Tinubu has named the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, after Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
Tinubu announced this in a letter he wrote to celebrate the iconic figure in commemoration of his 90th birthday.
In the tribute personally signed by the President and made available to the newsmen yesterday, he noted that the literary giant, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades in this milestone “Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work.”
The President said that it is also fitting to celebrate “this national treasure while he is still with us,” adding: “I am, accordingly, delighted to announce the decision of the Federal Government to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.
“We do not only celebrate Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements but also his unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice.
“When he turned 80, I struggled to find words to encapsulate his achievements because they were simply too vast. Since then, he has added to his corpus with his series of interventions, which have been published in many volumes.
“Professor Soyinka is a colossus, a true Renaissance person blessed with innumerable talents. He is a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer.
“He is a giant bestriding not just the literary world but our nation, Africa, and the world.
“He remains the shining light of our nation, the gadfly that pokes our national soul, decrying tyranny and oppression, urging us to become better as a nation.
“He is one Nigerian whose influence transcends the Nigerian space and who inspires people around the world. Since his youth, he has been a vocal critic of oppression and injustice wherever it exists, from apartheid in South Africa to racism in the United States. Soyinka always speaks truth to power.
“Beginning from his 20s, he took personal risks for the sake of our nation. His courage was evident when he attempted to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967. Detained for two years for his bravery, he narrated his experience in his prison memoir, ‘The Man Died.’
“Despite deprivation and solitary confinement, his resolve to speak truth to power and fight for the marginalized was further strengthened. His early writing, such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel,’ and Death and the King’s Horseman’, not only testified to his mastery of language, and his innovative storytelling, but also his unflinching commitment to enthroning a fair and just society.
“Our paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. When faced with a trial in absentia and a death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanized opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO. His global stature made him the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria.”
President Tinubu joined the world to celebrate his profound influence on generations of writers, scholars, and activists who have been inspired by his work.
“I celebrate him for giving us the spark to fight and confront military dictators in our country. I celebrate him for his enduring spirit and for teaching us that literature and drama can be used as a powerful tool to challenge the status quo.
I wish Professor Soyinka an incredibly happy 90th birthday.
“May he continue in good health to find creative fulfillment in the next decade leading up to his centennial.
“May he continue to inspire us all to build a nation where people are free from oppression and our teeming youths can live up to their dreams without being a wasted generation,” the president prayed.
Also extolling the virtues of the literary giant, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described him as a patriot and Nigeria’s and Africa’s pride.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory message issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the playwright, poet, and essayist is worthy of all celebrations as a Nigerian advocate of good governance, voice of the voiceless and one of Nigeria’s biggest exports to the world.
The governor said the Nobel Laureate, as a quintessential scholar and literary icon, has used his position and experience to contribute positively to literature, academics, and governance, not only in Nigeria and Africa but globally.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also praised the celebrant for his commitment to democratic government. He commended the crucial role the playwright played in the dark days of the military junta for the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I express warm felicitations to the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Oluwole Soyinka, on his 90th birthday anniversary. We are happy to associate with one of Nigeria’s pride and biggest exports to the world.
“Prof. Soyinka is a literary icon who has excelled in all genres of literature, and his prodigious works have continued to be a reference point in academic circles all over the world. He is a great pride to Nigeria, Africa, and the entire black race. His long years of outstanding accomplishments and consistency in the crusade for the wellbeing of citizens had culminated in his legendary status.
“Professor Soyinka is a renowned advocate of truth, justice, and equity. He has demonstrated his commitment to democracy, responsible and responsive governments the African continent.
“Prof. Soyinka, played a crucial role during the June 12, 1993, presidential election annulment struggle by aligning with pro-democracy activists to fight the military junta for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
“As Prof. Soyinka joins the league of nonagenarians, I wish him good health and more years of meritorious service to our dear country, Nigeria, Africa and the world. May we continue to benefit from his deep knowledge and worthy example.”
Copyright Commission, Akinyemi, Osundare, Odia hail playwright
The Nigerian Copyright Commission described Prof. Soyinka as a symbol of strength and courage in a world in dire need of a voice.
The Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John O. Asein, stated this in his goodwill message on the 90th birthday of the Nobel laureate.
Asein in his message titled ‘Celebrating a living Iroko in the forest of a thousand literary giants!’ said the commission cherished the contribution of Prof Soyinka to nation building.
He stated: “On behalf of the management and staff of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, I join the global community to felicitate our Nobel laureate, Professor Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
“As a playwright, essayist, music composer and film producer, Professor Wole Soyinka has a special place in our hearts and remains a major stakeholder in the copyright sector.
“Amongst many other things, he is also a frontline human rights defender, an environmentalist, a promoter of education, a lover of humanity and a positive change-agent that has left his mark at every phase in Nigeria’s history as an independent State.
“All through his adult life, Soyinka has demonstrated uncommon and unwavering commitment to building a society in which fairness, justice and citizen well-being are guaranteed.
“He remains a symbol of strength and courage in a world in dire need of a voice and represents the can-do spirit of the black race.
“As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of this great Nigerian, we recall his message at this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, reminding us about the negative effect of copyright piracy and the need for governments to appreciate copyright as a “cornerstone in the intellectual edifice of humanity, across nations, races, faiths, cultures and histories.”
Celebrated poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare in his tribute described Wole Soyinka as “a fierce, unrepentant believer in the power of the word, as shaper of memory and tutor of the faculty of remembrance. He is a possessor of a large heart and capacious mind, he is a tireless defender of our common humanity and champion of the kind of justice that keeps our moral universe in perfect balance. His is the kind of voice which thunders through the jungle of silence; the kind of candor which routs the army of cant and dissemblance.
On his part, respected diplomat, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi said: “Professor Wole Soyinka, Bros Kongi, as I call him is not only a Nigerian icon and he is not only an African icon, he is a world icon. And this is something that was ably demonstrated by the fact that Morocco, an African country a few days ago recognised and praised him that “you the authority on the use of words”. And Nigerians should be very proud that this happened. How he has managed to combine being a genius with being a social activist is something that baffles me. And I suppose that at the same time it is something that has encouraged many young Africans that they can combine scholarship with being socially involved. Happy birthday Bros Kongi. Many more years of activism, political activism and so on. African, the world needs him.”
Ace poet and social critic, Odia Ofeimun noted that besides the Nobel, Soyinka has oùt-written every other writer in sight. His words: “Writing is hard work. His age merely gives a rounding affirmation to his distinctiveness. He is gifted with a toweringness that cuts across and over all the criteria of the term “greatman”. Of all the awards that Nigerians have been getting, the one at the National Theatre is the most fitting. Anywhere in the world, no country can have a better candidate.”
