The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), has announced the launch of #TheSOYINKA90Session as part of the 26th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF 26.0).
The event, scheduled for November 11-14 at Freedom Park Lagos, aims to honour Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday and introduce his legacy to a new generation of readers and thinkers.
According to a LABAF Programme Directorate statement, the four-day celebration will feature daily readings and discussions of Soyinka’s memoirs by approximately 60 youths, primarily undergraduates. The selected memoirs include AKE: The Years of Childhood, ISARA: A Voyage around SA, IBADAN: The Penkelemes Years and You Must Set Forth at Dawn.
The event, tagged “Conversation between Soyinka and the Younger Generation,” builds upon the success of the pilot scheme #TheKONGI90Season, which took place in July 2024. Organisers reported that the initial programme was “remarkable and impactful,” with young participants eager to delve deeper into Soyinka’s works and spread awareness about his contributions as a public intellectual and activist.
In addition to the readings, #TheSOYINKA90Session will showcase three exhibitions highlighting various aspects of Soyinka’s life and career. These include displays of 90 book covers and monographs, a photographic journey from his childhood to adulthood and a conceptual exhibition based on his prison memoirs, The Man Died.
The choice of Freedom Park, a former colonial prison, as the venue adds a poignant layer to the celebration, transforming the space into a site-specific homage to Soyinka’s enduring legacy.
This event is part of the larger LABAF 2024, running from November 11-17, with the theme “Breakout: Hope is a Stubborn Thing.” The festival, dubbed the biggest cultural carnival on the continent, aims to promote literacy through literature, performing arts and visual arts.
CORA’s initiative underscores the importance of intergenerational dialogue and the preservation of cultural heritage. By engaging young people with Soyinka’s works, the organisers hope to inspire a new wave of literary appreciation and critical thinking among Nigeria’s youth.
As Africa’s most garlanded literary son, Wole Soyinka’s influence extends far beyond his writings. His life, documented in his memoirs, offers valuable insights into Nigeria’s history, culture, and the role of the artist in society. #TheSOYINKA90Session provides a unique opportunity for young Nigerians to connect with this rich legacy and draw inspiration for their own creative and intellectual p
ursuits.
