Help us improve our author pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on. He was awarded the 1986 nobel prize in literature, where he was recognised as a man who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence,12 and became the first african in africa and in diaspora to be so. Ak the years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ak.
This norton critical edition of death and the kings horseman is the only student edition available in the united states. Wole soyinka, nigerian playwright and political activist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. Its richness, complexity and its gradual evolution from a traditional to a modern society. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound, raised by christian parents and by a grandfather who introduced him to yoruba spiritual traditions. Wole soyinka, author info, published books, bio, photo. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer whose plays, books, and poems capture his cultural traditions, are frequently autobiographical, and use language that is rich and visual. Wole soyinka was born on july, 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. Wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet, author, teacher and political activist who received the nobel prize for literature in 1986. 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. Jul, 2016 in 1986, wole soyinka became the first african to win the nobel prize in literature. Journeys around and with kongi half a century on the road with wole soyinka. Wole soyinka introduced the culture of nigeria to the whole world.
Wole soyinka books biography and list of works author of death. The poem describes a phone call between a landlady and the speaker, who is. Wole soyinka poems, quotations and biography on wole soyinka poet page. Akinwande oluwole wole soyinka born july 1934 is a nigerian writer, poet and playwright. Wole soyinka was born on july, 1934, in nigeria and educated in england. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, poet and play writer. Soyinkas play was first performed at the eugene oneill theater in connecticut in 1970, with the revised, final version of the play debuting at the university of ibadan in 1971. In 1986, he became the first african to be awarded the nobel prize in literature. Reading wole soyinkas madmen and specialists in a time. Wole soyinka is a black africas foremost dramatist and one of the controversial writers of this generation. The motivation for the prize was, who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a. Wole soyinka, winner of the nobel prize for literature in 1986, is known for his drama, poetry, and prose.
Explore some of the sloane square theatres key productions through extracts from the guardian and observer archive, alongside new recollections. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings. Ill be ten tomorrow, said keffi to himself as he lay in bed, starring at the ceiling of his home in yaba. And throughout his life, he has served as a spokesman against apartheid and government corruption. He was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home as his father, samuel ayodele soyinkas held prominent position as an anglican minister and headmaster. 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. The poem describes a phone call between a landlady and the speaker, who is black, about renting an apartment. According to the citation, soyinkass nobel prize was for his plays, of which death and the kings horseman is arguably one of the best plays of the 20th century.
The wole soyink a annual lecture series was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to honouring one of nigeria and africas most outstanding and enduring literary icons. Buy a cheap copy of death and the kings horseman book by wole soyinka. Wole soyinka confirms he destroyed his green card after trump win. Soyinkas political commitment resulted in his imprisonment during the nigerian civil war. Akinwande oluwole babatunde soyinka was born on the th of july, 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. 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. Akinwande oluwole babatunde soyinka is one of the most talented playwright and poet in nigeria.
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. Nov 02, 2002 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. Wole soyinka bemoans attacks on girls education and calls on young people to mobilise politically in runup to february poll published. The presidency has enjoined nigerians to trust information coming from scientists and medical specialists as regard issues concerning virus diseases, instead of listening to. Nov 05, 2017 for nobel laureate wole soyinka its been a journey of many years, living and telling the african story. Fagunwa being a translation of ogboju ode ninu igbo irunmale by wole soyinka illustrated by bruce onobrakpeya city lights books. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble. It is organised by the national association of seadogs pyrates confraternity, which organisation soyinka with six other students founded in 1952 at the. After an exceptionally successful career as a butcher. Wole soyinka biographical w ole soyinka was born on july 1934 at abeokuta, near ibadan in western nigeria. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. Fagunwa being a translation of ogboju ode ninu igbo irunmale by wole soyinka illustrated by bruce onobrakpeya city lights books san francisco.
Alaba, the protagonist of this play decided that he deserves a life of quite retirement. Reading wole soyinkas madmen and specialists in a time of. We should all read these books one of our greatest compatriots. However, in contrast to these suggestions, let me submit wole soyinkas madmen and specialists. Telephone conversation is a 1963 poem by the nigerian writer wole soyinka that satires racism. Educated at the universities of ibadan and leeds, england, and at londons royal court theatre, he writes in english, fusing western and yoruba traditions. A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. Find out all about wole soyinka and his critically acclaimed books and plays which awarded him as the first african to win the nobel prize in literature in 1986. This is one of the bestknown plays by africas major dramatist, wole soyinka.
A life of meaning and impact by benjamin ola akande he has used his poems, plays, novels, memoirs and essays as vehicles to challenge repressive and incompetent leaders, skewer. Soyinka s political commitment resulted in his imprisonment during the nigerian civil war. The wole soyinka annual lecture series was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to honouring one of nigeria and africas most outstanding and enduring literary icons. Presidency replies soyinka, urges nigerians to trust. Poems and plays you have to read by nobel prize winner. 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. Mar 25, 2020 however, in contrast to these suggestions, let me submit wole soyinkas madmen and specialists. Wole soyinka has 125 books on goodreads with 2614070 ratings. Yes, keffi would indeed become a tenyearold boy the following day. List of books and articles about wole soyinka online. The presidency has enjoined nigerians to trust information coming from scientists and medical specialists as regard issues concerning virus. In this lesson well learn about his history, works, and influence. Professor wole soyinka was the first and only nigerian to win a nobel prize and the second african to achieve the same feat. 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.
Soon, both alaba and the rock become a place of more than passing interest to everyone from the lowly, to denizens of power. List of books and articles about wole soyinka online research. 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. Unfortunately beneath the rock on which he has chosen to make his abode are precious mineral deposits.
In 1986, the playwright and political activist became the first african to receive the nobel prize for literature. His the interpreters 1965 weaves stories from the contemporary world to the mythic and historical past, manipulating time so that in the end the very structure. While still imprisoned, soyinka translated from yoruba a fantastical novel by his compatriot d. Accused of treason, he was held in solitary confinement during most of this period.
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. Soyinka s legacy is bound up in the numerous plays, novels, short stories, essays, memoirs, movies, and translations which he has authored. Soyinka wrote this novelvery very early in his carreer. For nobel laureate wole soyinka its been a journey of many years, living and telling the african story. Wole soyinka books are read throughout the whole world. Wole soyinka biography, age, children, family, house. Wole soyinka was born in the city of abeokuta, nigeria, which was then a part of the british empire. Ake a dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. Death and the king\s horseman death and the kings horseman ak interpreters the lion and the jewel isara the open sore of a. Wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet and essayist born on july 1934 in abeokuta, nigeria. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood.
Prison notes of wole soyinka 1988 and poems from prison 1969, were secretly written on toilet paper and smuggled out of prison. Akinwande oluwole babatunde soyinka known as wole soyinka is a nigerian playwright, poet. Akinwande oluwole wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, notable especially as a playwright and poet. Top 10 literary works by wole soyinka connect nigeria. In 1986, wole soyinka became the first african to win the nobel prize in literature. About the author 1965 the first african writer to win the nobel prize for literature 1986, wole soyinka, a yoruba from western nigeria, is a distinguished playwright, poet, novelist, essayist, social critic, political activist, and literary scholar. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage. Woles father, samuel ayodele soyinka, was a prominent anglican minister and headmaster, while his mother, grace eniola soyinka, was a shopkeeper and local activist. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline. Wole soyinka biography childhood, life achievements. So look for the suggested readalikes by title linked on the right. As playwright, actor, producer, poet, novelist and author of scathing satirical revues, soyinka has been a champion of the responsibility of art and the artist to society. Soyinkas legacy is bound up in the numerous plays, novels, short stories, essays, memoirs, movies, and translations which he has authored.
A short story wriiten by wole soyinka when he was 19. Poems and plays you have to read by nobel prize winner, wole. It is organised by the national association of seadogs pyrates confraternity, which organ isation soyinka with six other students founded in 1952 at the. See all books authored by wole soyinka, including death and the kings horseman, and ake. Wole soyinkas most popular book is death and the kings horseman. Here are the top 5 wole soyinka books you should read. In nigeria, he founded the masks amateur theater company and the professional. Forest of a thousand daemons a h u n t e r s s a g a d. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings horseman. Read all poems of wole soyinka and infos about wole soyinka. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, political activist, and the first african to receive a nobel prize in literature. Soyinka is the first black person to win the nobel prize for literature 1986.
330 498 1339 641 237 1319 426 522 79 384 665 1144 1413 683 1357 622 1254 530 539 789 1243 1345 719 1068 551 95 886 764 939 380