For four days last week, scholars from all over the world under the auspices of Fagunwa Study Group converged in Akure, the Ondo State capital to honour Professor Wole Soyinka at 85. It was also moment to discuss the literary contributions of D. O. Fagunwa and Soyinka to the body of literature and knowledge in the society. Edozie Udeze was there
Since Professor Wole Soyinka turned 85 years in July, it has been tributes and celebrations galore for this first African literary giant to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Last week, the train moved to Akure, the Ondo State capital, where members of the Fagunwa Study Group and other intellectuals, scholars and writers from all over the world gathered for four days to deliberate on Soyinka and D. O. Fagunwa and what their literary works really mean to Nigeria, Africa and the whole world. With the theme of the conference as: Wole Soyinka: Wole Soyinka, D. O. Fagunwa and the Yoruba Artistic Heritage, literary eggheads and gurus were able to dissect all aspects of the literary contributions of these two writers who though wrote at different times, yet have a lot in common.
The papers essentially noted what the two did or have been doing to entrench literature in the minds of the public. Even though Fagunwa wrote in Yoruba even when he was literate enough to have done that in the English Language, and Soyinka has been doing his own writings in English, what are the points of common interests in these two? This was a question that bothered scholars and which indeed formed the central focus of the papers delivered by the majority. Yet, it was time to note that Soyinka translated Fagunwa, which is a commendable job but which was in most cases bereft of giving total and wholesome meaning to what Fagunwa actually wrote or meant in Yoruba language.
Soyinka himself uses basically the Yoruba worldview to project his works; to let the world see not only the rich cultural values of the people, but to also appreciate literature from the point of view of Africa. Since culture is exceedingly dynamic and ever permissive, Soyinka never shies away from that fact. That indeed is the beauty of Yoruba and most other affiliate cultures. This is what Soyinka recognizes in his works to be able to project deeper into the world arena. This was why in his welcome address, Professor Tejumola Olaniyan of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA, who was the convener of the conference quickly noted that the essence of the study group is to first and foremost promote Yoruba culture via intellectual deliberations and contributions.
Speaking to a large audience inside the main bowl of the International Conference Center (Dome) Akure made up of the governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Professor Soyinka, the representative of the Osun State governor and other reputable dignitaries, Olaniyan said “It is our responsibility as scholars to promote and disseminate Yoruba culture and literary values. We all know that Fagunwa is a pioneer in this regard. He is no doubt the originator of Yoruba writings. When this type of conference was held in this venue in 2013, for the first time, Soyinka was the chief speaker and the results of that conference have been made into a book. Today that book is seen as the basic reference point on the values of Fagunwa in literary firmament. Therefore this second conference is basically on Soyinka to celebrate and honour his works at 85. It is for us to engage in the promotion of literature and his mind-blowing conversations in the literary circle and more”.
Olaniyan, a scholar of immense literary ideas went on: “Soyinka’s works are suited for discourse in worldview now and in the future. He also promotes the works of Fagunwa thereby providing more insights into what the Yoruba culture stands for. His interpretations or translations of these works have further enriched the understanding of Igbo Olodumare and the ingredients of the forests that produced those amazing stories. A Forest of a Thousand Demons, Soyinka’s interpretation of D.O. Fagunwa is a pacesetter, helping to situate his voice in world literary map”.
In his own speech, Professor Ropo Sekoni, chairman of board of trustees of the study group and a member of the editorial board of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos, said “Today, the presence of the Kongi himself and the governor of the State Rotimi Akeredolu mean a lot to this gathering. We couldn’t have done this without their presence. This is the second time the Ondo State government is hosting this august body. Yes, it is a body composed to promote Yoruba culture and this state has consistently shown her love in this regard. We need to do this and to also fashion ways to further promote the prospects of more dialogues. It is our role to fashion ways to improve on infrastructure in the land and how to implement programmes for the good of the society. It is for us too to seek ways to discourage the youths from distancing themselves from their culture; from their language. Soyinka has indeed established his name in this regard by ensuring that he promotes the Yoruba cultural and linguistic values”.
Today, Soyinka’s works cut across geographical and cultural boundaries. His books command attention all over the world that he is even seen as one of the foremost writers world-over. It is for this that the gathering pleaded that Soyinka be taught specifically in English in schools for the benefit of the children while Fagunwa is also taught at the same level in Yoruba language. Also, it was pointed out that a museum in Fagunwa’s name be opened in Yorubaland for this purpose. “The museum should help to start a new level of intervention on the ideals of D. O. Fagunwa and the preservation and promotion of the Yoruba language”, Sekoni, also a literary scholar, posited.
Governor of Osun State Gboyega Oyetola represented by his Chief of Staff Dr. Charles Akinola reminded the gathering that it is time to ensure that the culture of the people stands to compete effectively with the rest in the 21st century. “This study group has done so. It has helped to ensure that we do not forget our norms, values and heritages. This is why we commend this body and ask that they do more so that the legacies of Fagunwa are not lost to the labyrinths of time and history”.
Paying glowing tribute to Soyinka, Akinola said, “Today we all know that Soyinka has sold to the world. His ideals and ideas as a writer have travelled far into the world. He keeps helping us to tell our stories, he also tells our stories; who we are and where we are headed. Indeed both Soyinka and Fagunwa have set standards we must follow in the 21st century world. There’s the beauty in what they have written to remind us that we have a language we must not forget or treat with disdain. Our language helps us to truly interpret the philosophies of life; our cultural values and others surrounding us”. Akinola insisted, while the crowd applauded.
He noted however that this is the moment to recognize that fact that both writers deserve the best they can get not only from scholars and members of the Fagunwa Study Group, but from the whole gamut of the people. “Yes they have raised the bar on our culture and behaviour.
At this point there was an interlude of cultural performances by the Ondo cultural troupe. Adorned in white, the dancers performed local songs that eulogized the state, as a hub of culture in the land. While they danced, the drummers who wore rich local fabrics of Ankara reminded the guests that Fagunwa and Soyinka are ambassadors of culture and therefore must have the best. An award winning troupe, the Ondo State cultural dancers electrified the hall with provocative dance patterns that made most guests to shuffle their legs and nod their heads to the evocative and rhythmical sounds of the drums.
Suddenly people became more alert to the messages of the drums gingering them to be alive to what is their own. Together literature and dance met to further encompass language in the best way the people could come to terms with. The multi-coloured costumes immediately blended with the mood of the people; there was that innate fact that indeed literature and culture and dance and drums are inseparable. Together, all enriched the natural heritages of the people and immediately threw open the inherent beauty of the telling of the stories of the natives by writers.
In his response, Soyinka remembered the loss of two female writers who meant a lot to him. They are Professor Molara Ogundipe of the University of Port Harcourt who died a few weeks back and Toni Morrison of America. Morrison was also a Nobel Laureate in literature and she wrote basically touching on the sentiments of Blacks in the new world. “The two are great writers”, Soyinka noted.
He recounted how Morrison was the first person to contact him when he was announced the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. He was then somewhere in Italy, where it was somewhat difficult to locate him. Somehow, Morrison was able to do and then became the first to break the good news to him. Ever since he and Morrison had been closer, sharing in their different and common literary ideas and beliefs and trusts.
To Soyinka this friendship has come a long way that it will be difficult to erase from his memory. He disclosed also how he learnt one or two new vocabularies from Morrison, an event that is still fresh in his subconscious. At 88, Morrison lived up to her bidding as one of the brightest Black American writers, molding characters, directing young authors and generally situating African values in her literary offerings.
Thus, in 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her works that cut across cultures and climes. In the end, Soyinka charged writers to enjoy the pleasures of literature and wishing that people would be granted the grace to live beyond 85 years. Even then, he posited that literature and literary matters shouldn’t always be about solitary lifestyle. “You will live beyond 85 years of productive years”, he noted, to which the people gave their total acclaim.
In his speech, Governor Akeredolu regaled guests with jokes and how both writers have brought acclaims to Yorubaland. He said: “I am particularly excited at the 85th birthday of our uncle, mentor and bastion, the world renowned icon. Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, first class academic, playwright, poet, novelist, and great human condition activist. It is hard to believe that the man is eighty, talk less of eighty-five, considering the vigour, speed and intensity with which he carries on.
For those of us in public service offices, one feels strong and encouraged by Professor Wole Soyinka’s writings and activities over the several decades of his engaging years. This is because they have elevated in our minds, the art of partisan living, as the biggest ideal of social reclamation. Indeed, his life at every station has taught us that to make a meaning of life, a man must set forth at dawn and immerse himself at the epicenter of beliefs, struggles and activities which see to reclaim society and help it attain its spontaneous fullness of being”.
An elated Akeredolu went on “the fact remains that a nation without a perfect understanding of its nationhood is a rudderless ship that is bound to capsize. And this is the reason successful nation’s intellectuals continue to embark on archaeological excursions into cultures and traditions in order to distil the society and bring out its best at all times. I am therefore convinced that your gathering here is another of those creative moments of rethinking our journey as a nation and our health as a society in search of its own civilization. I have read a bit of the book of proceeding of your last conference and I am convinced of the vigour, depth and clear headedness with which your Study Group addresses the myriad of challenges that the human mind faces in its quest for self reinvention and reclamation.
The Governor believes that “our own experience as a nation have proven to be an atlas of ideas. A body of knowledge that can only improve upon itself when its contradictions are processed and interrogated. For example, for so long that our country has existed, the ambition of peace, progress and prosperity it promised to achieve is also the greatest challenge it struggles with every day. However, my concern is that this need not be. It shouldn’t be, because the key issues of solutions are clear and are before our own very eyes. In our quest as a nation, we allow unreasonable contestations on ethnicity, tribalism, corruption, political and economic ownership of the nation to slow down our pace of self-realisation”.
Akeredolu promised to use culture and tourism to attract people to the state and to cement love. He invited those who have the time to always visit the sunshine state for peace, love, relaxation and recreation.
Some of the scholars in attendance included : Adeleke Adeeko, Moradewun Adejunmobi, Kunle Ajibade, Dele Layiwola, Pamela Smith, Olufemi Taiwo, Akin Adesokan, Tunde Babawale, Wumi Raji, Chima Anyadike, Ogaga Ifowodo and others.
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