Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka celebrated his 90th birthday this past Saturday and expressed his surprise at reaching this milestone during an event held in his honor. Speaking to young students at the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme in Abeokuta, Soyinka shared insights into his life experiences and views on the state of Nigeria.
During the event, Soyinka explained that he never expected to live to be 90 years old, and his decision to become a writer was rooted in a desire to correct the inaccuracies he found in stories he listened to in his youth. Reflecting on his decision to sneak into a radio station during the military era to retrieve an item he believed belonged to the people, Soyinka said he sought to prevent demoralization and discourage a culture of brutality.
Soyinka criticized Nigerians for frequently blaming the state while failing to examine themselves, arguing that crimes such as kidnapping and robbery cannot be solely attributed to poverty or inequality, but also stem from selfishness and the desire for luxury.
