The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) in partnership with Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) on Thursday celebrated Professor Wole Soyinka with a symposium held at the University of Lagos, Akoka to mark the Nobel laureate, 90th birthday which is on Saturday, July 13.
The programmed tagged Wole Soyinka International Symposium, had academia, poet, artists and important dignitaries in attendance including, the former Vice-President, Professor Osinbajo and Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Fayemi.
Welcoming guests to the event, the convener and former President Nigeria Academy of Letters, Prof. Duro Oni of the University of Lagos said the symposium is to celebrate the life and works of the legendary Wole Soyinka and his remarkable contribution to literature, culture and humanity.
“As we assembled here today, we acknowledge the profound impact of Soyinka’s writings, activities and intellectual legacy. His unwavering commitment to truth, Justice and creative expression has inspired generations and continues to shape our understanding of the human experience.
“In today’s event, we will engage in thought provoking discussions, presentations and reflections on Soyinka’s works exploring themes that he has engaged deeply in our contemporary world.
“We will delve into the poetry, place and memoir on covering the insights that have made him a literary icon and a beacon of hope. Let us come to celebrate the power of art, literature and the human skill as embodied with remarkable life and works of Wole Soyinka,” he said.

In his address, the President, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Sola Akinrinade said the international symposium is a celebration of remarkable life and legacy of Prof. Soyinka.
He disclosed that in different parts of the continent, various intellectual activities are being carried out to celebrate the 90th birthday of Prof. Wole Soyinka, one of Africa’s gift to mankind.
Akinrinade added that the programmes are opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the values that the man’s life represents.
“Prof. Soyinka’s contribution to Literature, Drama, Human rights and development has not only shaped intellectual and cultural astute, but has also inspired countless individuals across the globe.
NAL President added that Professor Soyinka’s works retrospect’s and proffer insights, accumulated the complexities of human existence, challenged unjust systems and championed the course of freedom and democracy.
“From his captivating plays and thought provoking essays to his activities, Professor Soyinka has made an indelible mark on the world. His courage and unwavering commitment to truth continue to serve as a beacon for those who strive to make the world a better place.
His quest for democracy and good governance has at some point being at the very risk of his own life.
“Today, we are privileged to gather to discuss his impact contributions and to express our gratitude for his enduring legacy, The Nigerian Academy of Letters, in which Professor Wole Soyinka is a foundation fellow; has put together this programme, in collaboration with the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange.
Akinrinade said the symposium brings together scholars, friends and individuals who have been influenced by his work and are eager to share their insights and celebrate his remarkable achievements.

“It is a mark of importance of the life and contributions of this man to humanity that we have here as our special guest of honor Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the former Vice President and the several eminent speakers who have come to contribute today.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone present for being here and for contributing to this special symposium. Your presence is a testament to the profound impact that Professor Soyinka has had on all of us,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola in her remarks said it is an honour to be part of the celebration of a Nigerian icon Professor Wole Soyinka.
“I feel very honored that I am here celebrating his works and his legacy on his 90th birthday.
“There are so many things Professor Wole Soyinka stands for; not just his creativity, but the courage of his convictions. I remember as a child when he came back after being in prison. I think as at that time, he must have been in his 30s. However, he has lived a great life, he’s still living a great life and he’s still impacting not just this generation, but future generations.
“So on behalf of the University of Lagos, I want to thank the Nigerian Academy of Letters for allowing us to be a part of the 90th birthday celebration of Professor Wole Soyinka. I’ll advise you all to not just listen to the keynote speaker but also reflect on his legacies and how that can also improve our lives.”
The Special Guest of Honour, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo eulogoses Prof. Wole Soyinka who he described as a public conscience, explained that everyone has a personal conscience while a public conscience is of a slightly different order which Prof. Wole Soyinka has always portrayed.
Osinbajo added that his works has always portray what society should portray and public conscience and it is important we celebrate an important icon which has portrayed Nigeria in a positive way for years.
The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Niyi Osundare, who spoke on the theme “Eni Ogun….. An Enduring Legacy said Prof. Wole Soyinka in four perspectives and a global figure, and his influence in Africa literature cannot be overemphasized.
According to him, it is extremely difficult to zero in on one achievement or one legacy of Professor Soyinka because he is a man of so many parts, “that is a jack of all trades who is also a master of all of them.
“But looking at it deeply, if I must single it out I think the fight for justice, the concomitant of justice, defending the dignity of the human being is something important to him and to him humanity comes first in everything, in everything he writes, and I think also his general perspective which cut across all borders, gender, ethnicity, religion and age.”
Looking at his works over the years, Prof. Osundare said legacies is a complex one but has the Idea of humanity, look at plays like, the “Dance of the forest, from the serpent and the rest of them, each of these talk about his personality as a writer and a humanist.
“Each play has a bit of his philosophy, a bit of his conviction, and a bit of his way of looking at life.
Explaining further the complexity of his works, the keynote speaker added that his first major play, ‘Dance of the forest, everybody knows that is very difficult play. “You know, it’s difficult to stage, difficult to understand. He was young and Shakespearean and Yoruba, everything is there. One thing he’s saying is, you’ve asked me to write a play celebrating Nigerian independence. Even those that asked him to write it couldn’t understand it.
“So it’s a kind of difficult if we have to put all this plays side by side. It’s difficult to pigeon hole Soyinka.
Anyway, everything about him is difficult to pigeon hole and that is what also influences his art.
“You know, you begin from point one, by the time you get to point three, you discover that there is a slight change. By the time you get to point five, you discover that you are beginning to wonder, let me go back, is this what I was discussing a while ago? Complexity, complexity, and this is important, which is what the mass media do not understand about this man, especially the noise makers of the internet.
“Soyinka is difficult, I started reading him as a student and from his writings you will know he is a deep humanist. He doesn’t care about ethnicity and whether you are a man or woman, rich or poor, he all out for everyone.
“So this is it, his plays are very difficult to pigeonhole. What we can do is look at the threads, the thematic, cultural, psychological, emotional threads that run through all of them, that’s one of the things he represents,” he explained.
Born Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka on July 13, 1934, in Abeokuta, Western Nigeria, is a Nigerian playwright and political activist who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986
In the 1950s, Soyinka wrote his first important play, ‘A Dance of the Forests, which satirized the Nigerian political elite. From 1958 to 1959.
Soyinka was a dramarturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London. In 1960, he was awarded a Rockefeller fellowship and returned to Nigeria to study African drama. At the same time, he taught drama and literature at various universities in Ibadan, Lagos and Ife.
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