As Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka publishes his first novel in 48 years, Bola Dauda and Toyin Falola offer a window on the literary giant, reflecting on their new book, Wole Soyinka: Literature, Activism, and African Transformation

Dauda, Bola

Falola, Toyin

English

LSE Research Online

Opening	a	Window	on	a	Literary	Giant:	On	WritingWole	Soyinka:	Literature,	Activism,	and	AfricanTransformationAs	Nobel	laureate	Wole	Soyinka	publishes	his	first	novel	in	48	years,	Bola	Dauda	and	Toyin	Falola	offer	a	windowon	the	literary	giant,	reflecting	on	their	new	book,	Wole	Soyinka:	Literature,	Activism,	and	AfricanTransformation.	1	October	2021	is	the	start	of	Black	History	Month	in	the	UK.	LSE’s	theme	for	2021	is	‘BLACK	365’	and	you	canexplore	the	events	taking	place	at	LSE	this	month.	Opening	a	Window	on	a	Literary	Giant:	On	Writing	Wole	Soyinka:	Literature,	Activism,	and	AfricanTransformationThere	are	twice	as	many	works	on	Wole	Soyinka	today	to	rival	the	total	number	ofawards,	distinctions	and	honours	he	has	received	in	his	lifetime.	And	as	long	as	he	isalive,	we	can	expect	twice	as	many	more	works	on	a	figure	who,	without	doubt,remains	one	of	the	most	important	literary	giants	of	the	twentieth	and	twenty-firstcenturies.	Not	many	people	achieve	such	feats	in	their	lifetime!	While	it	has	becomesomething	of	a	ritual	for	a	work	to	be	published	on	Wole	Soyinka	somewhere	aroundthe	world	annually,	not	all	provide	the	alimentary	sauce	that	embodies	all	that	isincontrovertible	and	controvertible	about	him.This	newly	published	book,	Wole	Soyinka:	Literature,	Activism,	and	AfricanTransformation	(Bloomsbury,	2021),	comes	at	an	auspicious	time.	Kongi,	as	WoleSoyinka	is	widely	known,	marked	his	87-year	sojourn	on	earth	this	July	with	the	usualshades	of	accolades	in	the	public	space.	This	new	publication	is	somewhat	proof	ofour	participation	in	that	celebratory	mood,	focusing	on	a	figure	whose	socio-politicalengagements	are	worthy	of	praise.	In	co-authoring	this	book,	we	bring	to	bear	ourrespective	expertise	in	the	social	sciences	and	humanities,	engaging	critically	withwhat	we	consider,	with	justification,	the	‘unauthorized	biography	of	Wole	Soyinka’.The	book	is	divided	into	four	parts.	The	first,	‘Introduction	and	Context’,	contains	two	sub-themes.	The	firstcomprises	a	collection	of	a	recent	body	of	essays	by	a	select	number	of	writers	to	approximate	how	their	differentassessments	of	Soyinka	exemplify	his	ideals	and	radical	interventions.	These	are	then	merged	to	yield	a	frame	thatembodies	Soyinka’s	person	and	his	works.	The	second	theme	examines	Soyinka	from	a	historical	point	of	view.	Itcaptures	his	creative	process,	beliefs	that	incorporate	the	Yoruba	cultural	worldview	and	social	engineeringengagements.LSE Review of Books: Opening a Window on a Literary Giant: On Writing Wole Soyinka: Literature, Activism, and African Transformation Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-10-01Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2021/10/01/opening-a-window-on-a-literary-giant-on-writing-wole-soyinka-literature-activism-and-african-transformation/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/Image	Credit:	‘1986	Nobel	Prize	winner	in	Literature	Wole	Soyinka	during	a	lecture	at	Stockholm	Public	Library	onOctober	4,	2018’	by	Frankie	Fouganthin	licensed	under	CC	BY	SA	4.0This	takes	us	to	the	second	part	of	the	book,	‘Historical	and	Cultural	Background’,	where	the	reader	is	takenthrough	Soyinka’s	life	from	cradle	to	grace.	We	begin	with	his	birthplace	of	Abeokuta	where	he	was	born	into	aprivileged	family	and	society	that	was	modern	in	every	sense	of	the	word	and	even	more	so	in	comparison	to	otherYoruba	communities,	at	least	up	until	British	colonial	incursion.	We	point	attention	to	Abeokuta’s	role	in	mouldingwell-known	Nigerian	figures	such	as	Funmilayo	Ransome-Kuti,	Fela	Anikulapo-Kuti,	Madam	Efunroye	Tinubu,Adetokunbo	Ademola,	Olusegun	Obasanjo,	Moshood	Abiola	and	Ebenezer	Obey.	Soyinka’s	academic	pursuits	andlife	accomplishments	are	narrated	in	this	section,	particularly	his	journey	to	winning	the	Nobel	Prize	in	Literature	in1986	and	his	decision	to	use	his	newfound	fame	and	the	power	of	the	pen	to	speak	truth	to	power.In	the	third	part	of	the	book,	we	probe	recurring	motifs	in	Soyinka’s	novels,	drama,	poetry	and	the	politics	of	hisliterature.	We	further	explore	the	thematic	concerns	in	these	different	literary	genres	which	Soyinka	uses	to	draw	onissues	that	are	historically,	politically,	philosophically	and	culturally	relevant	to	the	Nigerian	and,	indeed,	Africangeopolitical	reality.	Soyinka’s	drama	texts	draw	upon	different	periods	which	account	for	the	dominant	everydaythematic	preoccupations	in	his	literary	oeuvre,	including	corruption,	neocolonialism,	postcolonial	disillusionment,inept	leadership	and	cultural	dilemmas,	among	others.One	aspect	that	we	did	not	leave	out	is	a	discussion	of	Soyinka’s	religious	sphere	of	authority	which	is	the	Ogunpantheon	and	the	ways	or	forms	through	which	this	deity	exhibits	multiple	meanings.	These	serve	as	major	devicesused	by	Soyinka	to	exemplify	germane	issues	that	are	predominant	in	the	African	society.	Soyinka’s	affiliation	withOgun	dates	back	in	time	to	one	of	the	first,	if	not	the	very	first,	glimpses	in	his	1976	book,	Ogun	Abibiman.	He	usesthis	piece	of	literature	to	portray	Ogun	as	the	greatest	of	divinities	with	powers	that	could	pave	the	way	for	the	totalliberation	of	the	African	continent.	Soyinka	deploys	diverse	poetic	emblems	such	as	repetition,	correspondence	andanimal	representations	which	are	conceived	to	give	Ogun	a	forceful	place	whereby	society	is	reclaimed	andrejuvenated	against	tyranny.In	the	fourth	and	last	part	of	the	book,	we	examine	the	legacies	of	the	literary	icon	through	his	contributions	toliterature	and	the	use	of	language	in	his	moral	crusades	and	social	activism	against	all	forms	of	abuse.	Soyinka’sworks	and	life	go	beyond	the	borders	of	Nigeria,	Africa	and	any	praise	endowed	by	his	Nobel	Laureate.	This,	wecontend,	is	not	merely	due	to	Soyinka’s	fame	but	because	his	actions	continue	to	interest	glocal,	cross-continentaland	transnational	audiences.		LSE Review of Books: Opening a Window on a Literary Giant: On Writing Wole Soyinka: Literature, Activism, and African Transformation Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-10-01Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2021/10/01/opening-a-window-on-a-literary-giant-on-writing-wole-soyinka-literature-activism-and-african-transformation/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/Wole	Soyinka:	Literature,	Activism,	and	African	Transformation	is	not	only	an	important	addition	to	the	corpus	ofliterature	on	Soyinka	and	his	creative	process	in	the	last	five	decades,	but	it	also	offers	an	innovative	platform	tounfold	yet	another	missing	piece	of	the	puzzle	that	he	represents.	The	uniqueness	of	the	book	lies	in	its	robustanalysis	and	unusual	approach	and	structure.	The	decision	to	examine	the	breadth	and	depth	of	the	life	and	worksof	Soyinka	based	on	issues	(themes)	rather	than	events	(chronology)	is	a	clear	departure	from	previous	works.	Thebook	will	appeal	to	diverse	interests	and	non-specialists	who	yearn	for	newer	narratives	and	fresh	perspectives	onthe	literary	icon.There	are	several	massive	holes	at	the	centre	of	knowledge	about	Soyinka’s	creative	process	that	should	be	filled.Being	a	giant	of	a	man,	close	readings	will	not	stop	his	work	being	critiqued,	analysed,	interpreted	and	interrogated.Being	a	giant	of	a	man	still	after	he	is	long	gone,	the	combined	weight	of	his	literary	corpus	cannot	be	exhausted	bythose	who	cherish	and	appreciate	his	colossal	contributions	to	humanitarianism,	humanism	and	humanity.	What	wehave	done	with	our	publication,	like	many	others	in	the	distant	and	recent	past	and	in	the	distant	and	not-so-distantfuture,	is	open	the	window	to	view	Soyinka	through	the	knowledge	he	has	shared	with	the	glocal	community,	hisactivism	that	has	no	bounds	or	boundaries	and,	of	course,	his	active	support	for	universal	access	to	rights	andjustice.Note:	This	feature	essay	gives	the	views	of	the	authors,	and	not	the	position	of	the	LSE	Review	of	Books	blog,	or	ofthe	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.	LSE Review of Books: Opening a Window on a Literary Giant: On Writing Wole Soyinka: Literature, Activism, and African Transformation Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-10-01Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2021/10/01/opening-a-window-on-a-literary-giant-on-writing-wole-soyinka-literature-activism-and-african-transformation/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/

Opening a window on a literary giant: on writing Wole Soyinka: literature, activism, and African transformation

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Opening a window on a literary giant: on writing Wole Soyinka: literature, activism, and African transformation

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