wole soyinka the literary guru by eguriase s. m. okaka

Wole Soyinka the literary guru By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Apart from the great William Shakespeare, the next literacy guru I knew is Wole Soyinka. I read his books in my secondary school education days and again, in my university education as a student of Theatre Arts, at the great University of Benin, Benin City. Wole, was my favorite among other African writers. Let’s learn about living legend. It gives me joy when I studied his works. He is the face of literature in Nigeria and the world knows that too. Wole Soyinka is a black Africa’s foremost dramatist and one of the most controversial and distinguished writers of this generation. As a playwright, actor, producer, poet, film maker, musician, essayist, author of scathing satirical revues (‘Before the Blackout’) and editor, Soyinka has been a champion of the responsibility of art and the artist to society. This has made him a bitter critic of society and the establishment and has involved him in some activist episodes which cost him his freedom on two occasions.

Born in 1934 at Ake in Abeokuta, Ogun state of Nigeria, Soyinka was educated at the University College, Ibadan and Leeds University England where he took a degree in English. He showed interest and ability in poetry and drama while at the university. He was part of the literary harvest in Ibadan of the 1950s and early 1960s. He was a fellow at Churchill College, University of Cambridge and at various times, Head of English Department, University of Lagos, Head of Theater Arts, University of Ibadan; and Professor of Comparative Literature, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. As a prolific writer, Soyinka has published more than 15 full-length plays including A Dance of the Forest, The Lion and the Jewel, The Trial of Brother Jero, and Death and the King’s Horseman. Soyinka’s writing is sophisticated and shows a profound exploration of human themes and concerns through a unique exploration of his culture milieu. He has won many international prizes for his contribution to literature. The crowning point was the coveted Nobel Prize for Literature (1986). He is the first African to be so honored. (From Selection of African poetry by K. E. Senanu and T. Vincent) Questions • Select the statement that represents a paraphrase of the topic sentence in paragraph 1. a. Soyinka leads a fight for the accountability of art and the artist to society. b. This made him a strong critic of government and society. c. Wole Soyinka is black Africa’s most outstanding dramatic critic and writer of this era. d. Soyinka is a playwright, actor, producer, poet, film maker, and musician. • The passage seems to suggest that a. Soyinka wrote a lot of books. b. Soyinka’s work is simplistic. c. Soyinka does not like music. d. Soyinka has published less than 15 plays. • Where did Soyinka develop a concern for poetry and drama? a. at Ake in Abeokuta b. at university c. during the publication of The Trial of Brother Jero d. in 1986 • according to the passage, Soyinka’s highest personal achievement was attain when a. He was a fellow at Churchill College b. He was the Head of Department of Theater Arts. c. He was part of the literary harvest in the 1950s and 1960s. d. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. • Which of the following is not true about Soyinka? a. Soyinka was the first Africa to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. b. Soyinka lost his freedom on two occasions. c. Soyinka has produced 15 films. d. Soyinka has been Head of Department in three universities. Vocabulary Word focus: word ending in –eer There are many words in English that end in –eer. An example is the word muleteer – somebody whose occupation is driving mule. Many words in this category, though not all, usually mean someone who does or make a particular thing.

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