Prof. Wole Soyinka has lost the race to be Oxford’s Professor of poetry to British poet, Simon Armitage.

Armitage, a popular poet and broadcaster, secured 1,221 votes – 301 more than his closest rival, Wole Soyinka.


Armitage was backed by 58 names, including John Carey and Melvyn Bragg. Bragg had previously supported Soyinka, but later publicly switched his allegiance to Armitage, saying the 80-year-old might not “bother to come to Oxford” if he were to win.

He said Soyinka, a US-based Nigerian who turns 81 next month, “has not written much poetry recently and I now wonder how often he would bother to come to Oxford. Soyinka is a grand man and would regard it as a grand post. I also query his age.”

Soyinka had hit back, saying: “How curious that anyone would even speculate that I would allow busy and committed people – friends, colleagues and total strangers – to waste their time nominating and campaigning on my behalf for such a prestigious position if I were not serious about contesting.”

Soyinka initially led the way with the most nominations in the early stage of the election. Candidates need to be nominated by at least 50 Oxford graduates and Soyinka had more than 90 nods.

Armitage will be expected to deliver one public lecture per term, facilitating the “art of poetry in the university” with a salary of £12,000 a year.

Source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/oxfords-professor-of-poetry-wole-soyinka-loses-race-to-british-poet-simon-armitage/

Nice try our own Prof..getting nominated is an achievement...May you live long to witness more milestones

Haba Bragg!

How did you know he will not come to Oxford?

Won ti tojoro bo......na politricks be dat o...

,

Prof. Wole Soyinka.
The great poet... You are a true legend! An embodiment of rare knowledge.

DankemzI:
Wole Soyinka the great founder of Cultism

Dimwit, Prof. Wole Soyinka founded a humanitarian cause comprising of 7 members, that help render selfless help to people. Then more members wanted to troop in but they were dispatched and that was the genesis of these cult sects... Group of individuals gathered together in groups, bearing different names and of course different purposes, so this negates your assertion.

Soyinka is more of a biase social commentator than a poet, thus the news doesn't come as a surprise ...

Bias? For criticising the inefficiency of a failed government and its nation.. we hate the truth!

Dat's a prof.

oh

O Africa I weep for thee!
Why is it that Nigeria's best Brains are based outside the Country/Continent Why Why Why
Is it that we don't have what it takes to refine this raw talents?
Wole Soyinka the great founder of Cultism
Mention me and die of low sperm count

Dnarvaez:
Prof. Wole Soyinka.
The great poet... Your memories lives on!

Has he passed on?

eh ya

Eiyaa

To be honest, wole soyinka's books are overrated, i'm not hating, i'm just saying Nigerians should really read books to know that his books are overrated

Change effects.




Amadioha spoken

lexan1:
To be honest, wole soyinka's books are overrated, i'm not hating, i'm just saying Nigerians should really read books to know that his books are overrated

Hater!

We live not to win all our races. Kudos prof.

He was busy frolicking with Amaechi why lobbying was going on in Oxford

Mr Wole Soyinka (a retired University Professor) is only popular more in Nigeria only. Mr Soyinka books are overrated.

I had the premonition,

he didn't act as if he was interested when he was being nominated.

He was busy commissioning Oduduwa drum with Aregberascal.

Fighting Patience Jonathan when he was supposed to be writing poetry

Reading books with Amaechi while he was supposed to be writing

The list goes on

Eiyyyaa

Pele.
Shoroniyen?

ehya... better luck next time Prof.

Wole Soyinka..... Leave dr oxford 4 dem jare....