The literary world and admirers across Nigeria and beyond continue to honour Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka as celebrations for his 90th birthday extend into their second week.
On Tuesday evening, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted a special dinner at the State House to pay tribute to the renowned playwright, novelist and poet. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a “special portrait” of Soyinka, which Governor Sanwo-Olu described as “a true reflection of his enduring legacy.”
“We celebrate not just his 90 years of life but the countless lives he has inspired and continues to inspire,” Sanwo-Olu remarked. “His Nobel Prize win many years ago opened the door for many to dream and believe that greatness is achievable.”
The festivities are set to continue with a series of events planned in London from July 19-27, organised by The Africa Centre and the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE). These include exhibitions, film screenings, roundtable discussions and performances celebrating Soyinka’s immense contributions to literature and activism.
In Lagos, the Committee for Relevant Art is hosting “The Kongi@90 Season” on July 20th, featuring readings, conversations, exhibitions and youth creative parties. The highlight of the event, which aims to engage a new generation with Soyinka’s works and ideas, is a reading from Soyinka’s Ibadan: The Renkelemes Years.
A special theatre production of The Noble Warrior – Eni Ogun, premiered at the Hubert Ogunde Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, in Abeokuta on July 15 and other performances will take place at the Muson Centre Lagos on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st July.
Written by Aiye-ko-ooto, directed by Oriade Adefila and produced by Cash Onadele, The Noble Warrior is in collaboration with WSICE.
Soyinka, who turned 90 on July 13th, was earlier described by President Bola Tinubu as “a shining light and national treasure.” His birthday has become an occasion not just to celebrate the man, but to reflect on his decades-long impact on African literature, theatre, and political discourse.
As the tributes continue to pour in, it’s clear that Wole Soyinka’s influence extends far beyond his writings. At 90, he remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s cultural landscape, his life’s work a testament to the power of the written word and the enduring importance of speaking truth to power.
