Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka
Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Babatunde Soyinkais a Nigerian playwright and poet. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first African to be honored in that category...
NationalityNigerian
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth13 July 1934
CityAbeokuta, Nigeria
CountryNigeria
forms objects suppress terror truth
Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to those who seek to suppress the truth.
correction terms works
The problem with literature, with writing, is that it works sometimes in terms of correction of social ills. Other times, it just does not suffice.
best society
I'm an Afro-realist. I take what comes, and I do my best to affect what is unacceptable in society.
time
I've done a lot of guerrilla theater in my time.
disposal human therefore
Before you're a writer, you're a citizen, a human being, and therefore the weapons of the citizen are at your disposal to use or not use.
time
I like to say, 'I spend one-third of my time in Nigeria, one-third in Europe or America, and one-third on a plane.'
craft prizes rather
In the world of literature, I see prizes as more of a duty to the craft itself, rather than as something for the individual.
civic nigerians reclaim
We Nigerians must reclaim our sovereignty, our civic entitlements.
certain concerns cultures experience human meet point process related simply time understanding
My understanding of the creative process is simply that all cultures and all concerns meet at a certain point, the human point in which everything is related to one another. That has been my creative experience. I never know who's influencing me at any time.
african alien concept dare political society suggest
Some African leaders actually dare to suggest that democracy is a concept alien to traditional African society. This is one of the most impudent political blasphemies I can think of.
break escape ourselves source strength suit vital
There's no way to escape the culture that has evolved, from which we ourselves have evolved. Naturally, we stress it, break it up, reassemble it to suit our own needs. But it is there - a source of vital strength.
entity insist overall primary remains writers
Writers and intellectuals have a duty to humanity. It is to insist that the human entity remains the primary asset in overall development; thus, it must be safeguarded.
written
I've always written plays for the purpose of getting something out of my system.
driving forms intuitions nations preach religion terrible
Those nations that say it's a crime to preach your religion are making a terrible mistake. All they're doing is driving underground other forms of spiritual intuitions and practices.