Learn about nigerian playwright wole soyinka, winner of the 1986 nobel prize for literature, on. The playwright, poet, essayist, novelist, and nobel laureate wole soyinka is also a longtime art collector. Wole soyinka was born akinwande oluwole soyinka in abeokuta, nigeria on july, 1934. Wole soyinka 1 1934 author, actor, political activist at a glance 2 began writing career 3 twice arrested 4 postprison writings 5 literary philosophy 6 selected writings 7 sources 8 in 1986 wole soyinka 9 became the first black african to be awarded the nobel prize 10 in li. Wole soyinka biography childhood, life achievements. 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 member of the yoruba people, soyinka attended government college and university college in ibadan before graduating in 1958 with a degree in english from the university of leeds in england.
He has produced his works in multitude of genres such as drama, novel and poetry. Wole soyinka biography wole soyinka biography and list of works wole soyinka books. However, his parents were careful to balance this colonial, englishspeaking environment with regular visits to his fathers ancestral home in isara. Wole soyinka, author info, published books, bio, photo. Niyi soyinka, the success katalyst as he is fondly called is a polymath. All the books below are recommended as readalikes for wole soyinka but some maybe more relevant to you than others depending on which books by the author you have read and enjoyed. In this lesson well learn about his history, works, and influence. Growing up, he became interested in literature and this interest led him to study english literature, greek and history at the university college, ibadan. 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. 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. Wole soyinka is an established african writer of nigerian origin.
Explore some of the sloane square theatres key productions through extracts from the guardian and observer archive, alongside new recollections from wole soyinka, ann jellicoe, amanda redman. Wole soyinka was born on july 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, poet and play writer. The motivation for the prize was, who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence. Wole soyinka has translated in both language and spirit a great classic of ancient greek theater. Wole soyinka is a legend in the world of literature. Wole soyinka, nigerian playwright and political activist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. Wole soyinkas most popular book is death and the kings horseman. He is the lead strategist at bigshot consulting, a.
This book explores in depth the uses of language in wole soyinkas plays, poetry and prose. Wole soyinka the best books for summer reading time. Wole soyinka s most popular book is death and the kings horseman. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A charming memoir of soyinkas first 11 years, the book offers insights into yoruba culture and its influence on his childhood. It might surprise at first that in of africa wole soyinka does take a continental approach. Educated at the universities of ibadan and leeds, england, and at londons royal court theatre, he writes in english, fusing western and yoruba traditions. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings. The years of childhood was published in 1982, it was hailed by the new york times as one of the 12 best books of the year. You must set forth at dawn is an intimate chronicle of his thrilling public life, a meditation on justice and tyranny, and a mesmerizing testament to a ravaged yet hopeful land. Wole soyinka, a nobel prize laureate and nigerian exile, has been described by the new york times as one of the most compelling literary voices in black africa.
Wole soyinka, nigerias most important writer, always seems to be in some kind of trouble. In this article, we take a peek into his personal life with specific details about his children. To date soyinka has published two stylistically challenging novels, the interpreters 1965, winner of the 1968 jock campbell literary award, and season of anomy 1973. 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. Wole soyinka would later continue his literature studies abroad at the university of leeds, united kingdom. W hen the nobel laureate wole soyinka fled nigeria in 1994, and was sentenced to death in absentia by the military regime of sani abacha in 1997, he likened the liminal but dynamic state of the. By wole soyinka, africas most famous living playwright and nobel prize winner for literature.
The political history that animates soyinkas cultural thought in these two volumes is the subject of the open sore of a continent 1996. List of books and articles about wole soyinka online. This collection brings together idanre and other poems and a shuttle in the crypt, two powerful and distinctive volumes of soyinkas early poetry. The nigerian, novelist, playwright and poet, wole soyinka, was born at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. Akinwande oluwole babatunde soyinka known as wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet.
He soon published in london a book of poetry, poems from prison. The author approaches soyinkas works through meticulous close readings, giving the writer his due by capturing the complexities, ambiguities, and nuances of his language. Politics world business tech health time health entertainment science newsfeed living sports history the time vault magazine ideas time labs. Academic journal article iup journal of english studies wole soyinkas the road.
Nigerian writer wole soyinka on coup culture and challenging castro the nobel laureate talks about africas literary renaissance, drinking. An archaeological discovery reveals the source of the oldest religion ever and is the cause of extreme action. Wole soyinka has 126 books on goodreads with 2614546 ratings. Too often all of africa is lumped together, in media reports and policy debates, when of course it is a stunningly diverse continent in any number of respects. Soyinka has published numerous works in a variety of genres including drama, memoir, fiction and cultural critique. Wole soyinka was born on july, 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. Wole soyinka confirms he destroyed his green card after trump win. The former is about a group of young nigerian intellectuals frustrated by their society, and the latter is an allegory on the nigerian civil war. He does so with a poets ear for the cadences and rhythms of chorus and solo verse as well as a commanding dramatic use of the central social and rel. For 40 years the nobel prizewinning writer wole soyinka has been an outspoken opponent of brutal regimes. Some of this criticism soyinka revised and published as myth, literature and the african world 1976. Wole soyinka books biography and list of works author of death. Soyinka was imprisoned in solitary confinement from 1967 to 1969 for writing an article that called for a ceasefire.
A nobel laureate offers a keen, thoughtprovoking analysis of africas current crises and points the way to cultural and political renewal 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 of independence and lived through postcolonial failure. To this day he is deeply involved in nigerian politics and the shaping of that african country as an independent nation. He was the first person to have been awarded the highest of an accolade, the 1986 nobel prize, for his contribution to literature. See all books authored by wole soyinka, including death and the kings horseman, and ake. An activist in nigerias fight for independence, mr. He was born in 1934 in abeokuta, near ibadan, into a yoruba family and studied at university college in ibadan, nigeria, and the university of leeds, england. Wole soyinka born july th, 1934 wole soyinka, in full akinwande olu wole soyinka, was born on july, 1934, in abeokuta, nigeria. Soyinka was born on july, 1934 in abeokuta, the capital of ogun state, nigeria. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, political activist, and the first african to receive a nobel prize in literature. List of notable poems by wole soyinka nigerian infopedia. Explore some of the sloane square theatres key productions through extracts from the guardian and observer archive, alongside new recollections.
Today, he continues to engage actively with art and life in nigeria and africa, and annually presents the wole soyinka prize for literature in africa, set up in his name in 2005. He was awarded the 1986 nobel prize in literature, the first african to be honoured in that category soyinka was born into a yoruba family in abeokuta. This is a book that give a brief detail on the origination of the different existing dreadful cult groups in nigeria, their initiation process and the violent crimes been carried out by them. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. He was africas first nobel laureate and nigerias only laureate till date. More than a major figure in the world of literature, wole soyinka is a courageous voice for human rights, democracy, and freedom. As a dramatist, poet, novelist, essayist, political activist and professor, wole soyinka is perhaps africas most brilliant cultural ambassador and critic, and a notable commentator on world affairs.
He studied english literature, greek, and western history. The first set of poems, idanre and other poems, traces the authors. During the six years spent in england, he was a dramaturgist at the royal court theatre in london. So look for the suggested readalikes by title linked on the right. Nigeria history, west african history, books barnes. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline. In nigeria, he founded the masks amateur theater company and the professional. Soyinka is the first black person to win the nobel prize for literature 1986. Nigerian playwright and political activist wole soyinka received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. Myth literature and the african world by wole soyinka 19760902 jan 1, 1833. A thought provoking and atmospheric play that explores religious fanaticism.
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