Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka the man popularly referred to as Wole Soyinka is Arguably the Most Prominent consistent Nigerian that has ever lived in Modern History.
All through his adult life, the world acclaimed playwright and Nobel Laurette has maintained a reputation that has seen him staying relevant all through the political journey of the entity called Nigeria.
Wole Soyinka was born in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is a native of Isara Remo and the second child of 6 children. His father Samuel Ayodele Soyinka held a prominent position in the community as an Anglican minister and headmaster, hence young Soyinka was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home while growing up.
He attended St. Peters Primary School and later, enrolled at the Abeokuta Grammar School, where his talent in literary composition was recognised and he won many prizes.
In 1952, he graduated from Government College and then studied English literature, Greek and Western history at the University College in Ibadan. In his last year at University, he worked on a short play for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service.
Soyinka moved to England in 1954 and continued to pursue his education at the University of Leeds, under the tutelage of Wilson Knight and became the editor of ‘The Eagle’, the University magazine.
‘A Dance of the Forests’, one of his best works was presented at the Nigerian Independence Day celebrations in 1960. It is regarded as one his most influential plays that proposed a new vision for Africa and was later, published by the Oxford University Press in London and New York.
By 1962, Soyinka had returned to Nigeria and joined the department of English at the Obafemi Awolowo University as a lecturer.
A cousin of late Nigerian Afrobeat music legend and social activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, it was clear activism was also in his genes as he frequently engaged in discussions on current affairs and spoke out against government censorship.
Soyinka resigned from his position at OAU in 1964 as a protest against the pro-governmental policies imposed by university authorities.
The same year he authored two of his dramatic pieces; ‘Before the Blackout’, ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ and a BBC radio play ‘The Detainee’.
Soyinka is 85 Years Now!
To be Continued….
Source: thenet.ng
