Wole Soyinka: 80 hearty cheers to literary icon

Soyinka

By ADA DIKE

Nigeria’s most influential author, poet, essayist and the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986,  Prof. Oluwole Soyinka, clocked 80 years on July 13, 2014 and the grand celebration took place for 80 days in many states in Nigeria.

With the theme: Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Art Exhibition, the touring celebration of the great writer’s birthday began in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in April and later continued in Port Harcourt and Abuja.

Being the World Book Capital 2014, Port Harcourt is still celebrating one of his books, “Aké: The Years Of Childhood” as the July Book of The Month.

Also, in Osogbo, Osun State, the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, hosted the exhibition of Soyinka’s portraits, which were produced under Living Legends project that involved leading Nigerian master painters and sculptors led by Olu Ajayi. The project had also documented other great Nigerians such as Yusuf Grillo, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Prof J.P. Clark and the Oba of Benin, Erediauwa, but Soyinka was the first sitter in 2008.  

Anchored by Linda Amadi, the formal opening of the exhibition had an interactive session of the workshop and students of Ataoja High School of Science and Christ African Church Middle School participated in an interactive session where they shared their knowledge of the Nobel Laureate, Soyinka.

In continuing, The Wole Soyinka Society and the University of Lagos had an international conference from Friday, July 12, to Saturday, 13, 2014. Themed: The Soyinka Impulse Art, Humanity, Transition and Performance: “Celebrating Soyinka at 80,” the keynote address was delivered by Prof. Biodun Jeyifo (Harvard University).

There was also "Free Creative Expression" in his honour held last weekend at the main Auditorium of University of Lagos. Themed: “Dialogue Through Spoken Word,” the three-and-a-half-hour-session of intense speeches on political, economic and sexuality discourses in the country and around the world, was headlined by the renowned director of spoken word performances from Jamaica, Mutabaruka and America's genius of slam poetry, Javon Johnson and Nigeria's top-bills in performance poetry, Aj Daggar Tolar, Uche Uwadinachi, Donna Ogunnaike, Dolapo Ogunwale, Efe Paul Azino, Titilope Sonuga, Akeem Lasisi,  Floetry, Ayeola Mabiaku and over 20 other young and vibrant voices.
The night of "free mic and mind", anchored by Efe Paul Azino (of Unchained Voices) was witnessed by the poetry laureates, Niyi Osundare and Femi Osofisan, accompanied By Ben Tomoloju, Folu Agoi and other participants in the Wole Soyinka International Conference.
The Free Creative Expression poetry concert continued in Abeokuta on Sunday at the Cultural Centre, where a lineup of 80 poets performed in honour of the Nobel laureate. In continuation of the Project WS80 International Cultural Exchange ended last Monday with presentation of the play, "Dance of the Forests" in the Ijegba Forest Residence of Soyinka. It’s directed by Tunde Awosanmi.

Nigerians are happy celebrating him, so many people have acknowledged the impact Soyinka’s presence has made in their lives.

Sharing his view, foremost cinematographer who has spent over 40 years in film production, Tunde Kelani, said: “Watching Kongi's Harvest, pioneering Nigerian film produced by Francis Oladele and starring Wole Soyinka in 1969 converted me from photography to motion pictures. Until then, I worshipped Hollywood films but these are my real heroes on the screen! As a result I was employed as a trainee cine-cameraman in 1970 and the rest is history. I hereby salute our Kongi, Prof Wole Soyinka on his 80th birthday. O great Ijegba, may you live longer and continue to inspire us.”

In the same vein, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has reiterated that Soyinka’s place is already assured among those in the pantheon of the great men and women of letters.

He advised him to return to the Lord. He said this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 17th Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture Series, to coincide with the 80th birthday celebration of the Nobel Laureate, organized by the National Association of Seadogs.

"Unless the British come to arrest you for court martial, I wish you many more years of good health, joy and peace. As you walk towards the sunset, turn to the Lord and may He let His face shine upon you and bless you,” Kukah added.

The distinguished writer is presently, the living highly celebrated Nigerian and African writer in the world. The literary icon is revered for his prowess in writing drama, prose and poetry.

 He has written several books including: The Lion and the Jewel (1963), A Dance of the Forests (1963), The Interpreters (1965), The Strong Breed (1965), The Road (1965), The Swamp Dwellers (1965), The Trials of Brother Jero (1965), Kongi’s Harvest (1966), The Man Died (1972) and several others.