Jan 18, 2017 soyinka, the first african writer to be awarded the nobel prize in literature, was jailed twice for his criticism of the nigerian government during the 1960s, famously composing protest poems on. In this magnificent new work, soyinka offers a wideranging inquiry into africas culture, religion, history, imagination, and identity. After study in nigeria and the uk, he worked with the royal court theatre in london. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery. Wole soyinka is an established african writer of nigerian origin. After preparatory university studies in 1954 at government college in ibadan, he continued at the university of leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate. In an extraordinarily prolific and rich body of work including plays, novels. Of africa is an intellectually robust, booklength essay that attempts to unravel the paradoxes and contradictions plaguing nigeria and, by extension, africa. He was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home as his father, samuel ayodele soyinka s held prominent position as an anglican minister and headmaster.
Great scars in african history, for example, have been left by the experience of being plundered, first by slave traders and then by. Some consider him africas most distinguished playwright, as he won the nobel prize in literature in 1986, the first african to be so honored. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. In this lesson well learn about his history, works, and influence. Jul 19, 2019 wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet, author, teacher and political activist. In nigeria, he founded the masks amateur theater company and the professional orisun. List of books and articles about wole soyinka online research. Soyinka s book africa is really a lucid book on the essence of the truth that uses a bit african history as a vehicle of expression. Now in his early fifties, he has a large and richly varied literary production behind him and is in his prime as an author. Soyinkas motivation for writing of africa was his search for an african humanism that could counter the deadly consequences of religious fanaticism. Soyinkas book africa is really a lucid book on the essence of the truth that uses a bit african history as a vehicle of expression.
Wole soyinka confirms he destroyed his green card after. Wole soyinka born july th, 1934 wole soyinka, in full akinwande olu wole soyinka, was born on july, 1934, in abeokuta, nigeria. Nigerian nobel prizewinning author wole soyinka talks about the history of africa and the challenges facing the continent today. His smooth as silk use of the english language makes it worth reading the book just to enjoy his superb ability to write. Wole soyinka s most popular book is death and the kings horseman. Soyinka, the first african writer to be awarded the nobel prize in literature, was jailed twice for his criticism of the nigerian government during the 1960s, famously composing protest poems on. While still imprisoned, soyinka translated from yoruba a fantastical novel by his. Educated at the universities of ibadan and leeds, england, and at londons royal court theatre, he writes in english, fusing western and yoruba traditions.
Wole soyinka, nigerian playwright and political activist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. Wole soyinka is a nobel laureate with 11 videos in the cspan video library. In the early poems, ojaide argues, soyinka is interested in individuals in society, and there is a psychological and social bias that is clearly articulated. Wole soyinka is an internationally acclaimed playwright, poet, novelist, and critic, who served as professor of comparative literature at the university of ife, nigeria, until forced to flee the country during the regime of general abacha in the 1990s.
The nobel prize in literature 1986 this years nobel prize in literature goes to an african writer, wole soyinka from nigeria. It is a daring projection of a culture whose reference points are taken from within the culture itself preface. This, i think, is the clash of feelings that agonizes soyinka. See all books authored by wole soyinka, including death and the kings horseman, and ake. In the manner of alfred jarrys ubu roi, soyinka develops a special childish language for his cast of. Oct 08, 2019 wole soyinkas book, myth, literature and the african world, asserts the metaphysical interconnectedness of history, ritual and drama. Wole soyinka project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Wole soyinka, in full akinwande oluwole soyinka, born july, 1934, abeokuta, nigeria, nigerian playwright and political activist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. The poet and playwright wole soyinka is a towering figure in world literature. Wole soyinka confirms he destroyed his green card after trump win. Wole soyinka books biography and list of works author of death.
When he was 4 years old, spurred by insatiable curiosity and the beat of a marching drum, wole soyinka slipped silently through the gate of his parents yard and. It should appeal to soyinka scholars, to students of african literature, and to anyone. This article looks at the life history of the wole soyinka, as well as other little known facts about him such as his books, literary works, and quotable quotes. Born in nigeria, he returned from graduate studies in england just as his country attained. Wole soyinka is a celebrated nigerian writer and winner of the 1986 nobel prize for literature. Popular wole soyinka books meet your next favorite book. Wole soyinka bemoans attacks on girls education and calls on young people to mobilise politically in runup to february poll published. Wole soyinka biography wole soyinka biography and list of works wole soyinka books. Apr 22, 2020 author of death and the kings horseman, ake, ake, the interpreters, season of anomy, the jero plays, the man died, madmen and specialists. Akinwande oluwole babatunde soyinka known as wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet. May 01, 2008 on this edition of conversations with history, uc berkeleys harry kreisler talks with nobel laureate wole soyinka. Akinwande oluwole wole soyinka born july 1934 is one of the brightest nigerian writers of his generation and the first person from africa and the diaspora to be honored with a nobel prize in literature 1986.
This years nobel prize in literature goes to an african writer, wole soyinka from nigeria. This book is a testament to the fact that wole soyinka is indeed a nobel prize class. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound, raised by. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, political activist, and the first african to receive a nobel prize in literature. It is organised by the national association of seadogs pyrates confraternity, which organisation soyinka with six other students founded in 1952 at the. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. A member of the yoruba people, soyinka attended government college and university. He sometimes wrote of modern west africa in a satirical style, but his serious intent and his belief in the evils inherent in the exercise of power usually was. Nov 04, 2012 this, i think, is the clash of feelings that agonizes soyinka. Wole soyinka has 127 books on goodreads with 2614808 ratings. A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. He writes with his adult voice, but maintains the childs perspective and understanding throughout, the one exception a nostalgic contrasting of streetfronts then and now. He seeks to understand how the continents history is entwined with the histories of others, while exploring africas truest assets. Wole soyinkas myth, literature and the african world.
Wole soyinka biographical w ole soyinka was born on july 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. As playwright, actor, producer, poet, novelist and author of scathing satirical revues, soyinka has been a champion of the responsibility of art and the artist to society. Journeys around and with kongi half a century on the road with wole soyinka. Wole soyinka was born in the city of abeokuta, nigeria, which was then a part of the british empire. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings. Books by wole soyinka goodreads meet your next favorite book. His work in the theater ranges from the early comedy the lion and the jewel to the poetic tragedy death and the kings horseman.
Postcolonial identity in wole soyinka is a major and imaginative contribution to the study of wole soyinka, african literature, and postcolonial cultural theory and one in which writing and creativity stand in fruitful symbiosis with the critical sense. Wole soyinka was a bright, curious child and his account of his early childhood in the town of abeokuta in western nigeria is enchanting. It was established by the lumina foundation in 2005 in honour of africas first nobel laureate in literature, wole soyinka, who presents the prize, which is chosen by an international jury of literary figures. Summary of telephone conversation by wole soyinka beaming notes. Wole soyinka prize for literature in africa is a panafrican writing prize awarded biennially to the best literary work produced by an african. Nigerian nobel prizewinning author wole soyinka talked about his book of africa, in which he explores the history of africa and the challenges facing the continent mr. Wole soyinka is a black africas foremost dramatist and one of the controversial writers of this generation. On july 2019, professor wole soyinka clocked 85 years old. He was the first person to have been awarded the highest of an accolade, the 1986 nobel prize, for his contribution to literature. Wole soyinka biography akinwande oluwole wole soyinka born july, 1934 is a nigerian writer, poet and playwright.
Am wole soyinka the african winning writer, like my page and you will be blessed. Discover librarianselected research resources on wole soyinka from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines. Wole soyinka society promoting the study, the teaching. Wole soyinka confirms he destroyed his green card after trump. A member of the unique generation of african writers and intellectuals who came of age in the last days of colonialism, wole soyinka has witnessed the promise. He sometimes wrote of modern west africa in a satirical style, but his serious intent and his belief in the evils inherent in the exercise of power usually was evident in his work as well. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound. The wole soyinka annual lecture series was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to honouring one of nigeria and africas most outstanding and enduring literary icons. He was awarded the 1986 nobel prize in literature, the first african to be so honored soyinka was born into a yoruba family in abeokuta. He has won international acclaim for his verse, as well as for novels such as the interpreters. As well as plays he has written two novels, two volumes of poetry, and the man died, notes of his prison experience.
He has produced his works in multitude of genres such as drama, novel and poetry. List of books and articles about wole soyinka online. Postcolonial identity in wole soyinka mpalivehangson. In his retrospective study of the poetry of wole soyinka, tanure ojaide notes that as one of soyinkas earliest poems, telephone conversation differs substantively from his later poems. He was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home as his father, samuel ayodele soyinkas held prominent position as an anglican minister and headmaster.
Wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet, author, teacher and political activist. Akinwande oluwole wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, notable especially as a playwright and poet. On this edition of conversations with history, uc berkeleys harry kreisler talks with nobel laureate wole soyinka. Jan 07, 20 nigerian nobel prizewinning author wole soyinka talks about the history of africa and the challenges facing the continent today. He studied english literature, greek, and western history. Wole soyinka prize for literature in africa wikipedia.
In 1986, he became the first african to receive the nobel prize for literature. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Discover book depositorys huge selection of wole soyinka books online. Wole soyinkas book, myth, literature and the african world, asserts the metaphysical interconnectedness of history, ritual and drama. Of africa by wole soyinka in chm, djvu, epub download ebook. The keenly awaited new play from the nobel prizewinner a naked satire on the rule of general abacha in nigeria, the play chronicles the debauched rule of general basha bash who takes power in a coup and exchanges his generals uniform for a robe and crown rechristening himself king baabu. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws.
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