Born Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka on the 13th July, 1934 into a Yoruba family—Remo—in the city of Abeokuta, Ogun State. He is a playwright, poet, essayist and an activist.
Uncommon Facts about him:

Although W.S was a chorister born into a Christian devoted home of an Anglican Minister and head master of a missionary school, he is today a devoted Ogun deity worshipper.
This is contrary to the popular belief that he is an atheist. His writings, memoirs, interviews and indulgence has proved him to believe so much in the Yoruba tradition and Ogun deity.
His book, Idanre was dedicated to Ogun deity.
Every year he sacrifices a ram for his family—or, to be specific, for his children.

2.

Opting for infantry in the Officer training corps, he was called up by Her Royal Majesty to fight in the Suez war of 1956. In his attempt to decline and avoid being court martialed, he feigned to speak only Yoruba and no knowledge of English language which was the language of recitation of oath to Her Majesty . He would later escape the camp and was saved from being court martialed after stating he was a second class citizen and not from Lagos which were colonial subjects.
He also trained for the war in Hungary but dropped out on the order of his father.

3.

He once held a radio station hostage with the aid of a gun. He ordered the tape of the premier’s election speech be removed and replaced with his own pre-recorded speech.

4.

He once hid in the office and under a massive oak desk in Chief Awolowo’s office while Awolowo himself was imprisoned. He would later narrate the incident to Chief Awolowo years later.

5.

He has been hosted by famous African leaders like Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, a younger Cyril Ramaphosa and so many other famous world presidents.

6.

W.S travelled to Biafra where he held a meeting with Odumegwu Ojukwu and then with Victor banjo and Philip Alale. The latter two were soon executed by Ojukwu. It was from Victor Banjo that Soyinka first ever heard the name Olusegun Obasanjo.

7.

W.S met Olusegun Obasanjo for the first time at a filling station in the middle of the night in Ibadan. He was to deliver a message from Biafra’s Victor Banjo.

8.

Obasanjo had a gun under his garment which was a breach of the pre-arranged agreement. Obasanjo simply responded he is a soldier and shouldn’t be caught by surprise. Banjo’s message through Soyinka was to tell Obasanjo to allow unhindered passage of the Biafran soldiers to Lagos to seize power.

9.

Ibrahim Babangida, as a military president, had twice paid him visits in his home.

10.

Babangida also conferred on him the title of the order of Niger —CON honour. Although Soyinka was initially going to decline this honour except Babangida could prove his innocence in the assassination of Dele Giwa.
Babangida, in his office asked Soyinka if he also believed the conspiracy about his involvement.
No writer should ever look for prizes but, if one falls into your lap, grab it

11.

He is the founder of the FRSC (road safety corps) more especially due to the frequent accidents along the Ibadan-Ife road. He described the road as a slaughter slab, since he habitually scooped up his student’s brains after filling them with knowledge

12.

Babangida also confided in Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and J.P Clark to halt the trial of Mamman Vatsa. The trio were in a frenzy when the news Vatsa’s prompt execution broke out.

13.

W.S was with IBB hours before a failed coup which almost claimed the de facto president’s life and was also present with IBB hours after the coup.

14.

He is one of the few Nigerians alive who have ever set their eyes on the real Ori-Olokun after going on a failed mission to steal back the plaque with the approval of General Olusegun Obasanjo. The original bronze made Ori-Olokun was later found in a Museum in England instead of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

15.

He speaks French

16.

He was planning to take a nap when he was announced as a Nobel Laurette in literature. He was rumored to most likely win the Nobel prize in literature in 1985 but his hope was dashed and he refused to take the rumour serious in 1986 until he was announced.

17.

While attempting to flee from Abacha via a boat and then a bike with his family in a night, he spotted an SSS agent and he had his pistol ready to fire and intent to kill him incase he attempted to apprehend him. On his successful escape to Benin republic, he was face-to-face to a Yoruba masquerade but still relaxed.
Daddy is indeed a confident god.

18.

He has lectured in world class universities e.g Oxford, Havard, Yale ..name it (in his voice )

Seun, I learnt you are also an alumni of Obafemi Awolowo University. Please take note that the Ori-Olokun that is found in the Museum is only a travesty. It is also quite unfortunate that the same fake image is used as the University Crest while the real artifact remains somewhere close to London

Source: His books, majorly his personal memoirs
Lalasticlala, I spent my weekend preparing this . Kindly let me take your position in posting this one Birthday for today
I'm currently sipping from a bottle of Heineken in honour!

Nothing like a true icon living to a ripe old age!
HBD to a true legend!

But this shows it’s not from eating vegetables and avoiding danger and all that. WS didn’t do any of that. Infact I heard he didn’t drink water for ten years - only wine! The way he lived guaranteed he’d die young. Yet here we are!

** Two FTC back to back!
From now onwards I want to be known as Mr. FTC!!

Happy birthday to Wole Soyinka.

CanadaOrBust:
Cool.
But this shows it’s not from eating vegetables and avoiding danger and all that. WS didn’t do any of that. Infact I heard he didn’t drink water for ten years - only wine! The way he lived guaranteed he’d die young. Yet here we are!
Nothing like a true icon living to a ripe old age!
HBD to a true legend!

I learnt about the water and wine issue and Obasanjo in an interview almost admitted to it. (You can find the interview on YouTube) However, I haven't any proof as I haven't read or heard directly from W.S about staying away from water. But, it is a common knowledge that He is a lover of wine and has been inducted into various wine fraternities.

Should I Conclude That He Has Seen It All?
He Is The Good, The Bad And The Wise One.
HBD. To WS

Happy birthday sir.


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Check my signature.

Officialgarri:

I learnt about the water and wine issue and Obasanjo in an interview almost admitted to it. (You can find the interview on YouTube) However, I haven't any proof as I haven't read or heard directly from W.S about staying away from water. But, it is a common knowledge that He is a lover of wine and has been inducted into various wine fraternities.

What he said was that wisdom came to him at a young age, unlike other people. The wisdom that came to him? That wine is better than water. So from a young age he drank wine not water!

CanadaOrBust:


What he said was that wisdom came to him at a young age, unlike other people. The wisdom that came to him? That wine is better than water. So from a young age he drank wine not water!

In that particular interview, he was asked if it was true that he had "refused" to drink water for over 10 years.
Then he was like "it is not refusal but he had come to knowledge at a very young age and found out wine is better than water "
To me, I think it's an evasive answer. I have often asked friends in medical line and google if it was possible to stay away from water for such a long time

Also in his book Ake; there's nowhere he talked about staying away from water. He was in a Christian home under strict parents. He couldn't have had access to wine.

Officialgarri:

In that particular interview, he was asked if it was true that he had "refused" to drink water for over 10 years.
Then he was like "it is not refusal but he had come to knowledge at a very young age and found out wine is better than water "
To me, I think it's an evasive answer. I have often asked friends in medical line and google if it was possible to stay away from water for such a long time

Well he clearly preferred wine to water. The exact opposite of what we are advised to do to live long!!
All health experts are always saying, “Drink water, drink water, water, water, water!!!”

CanadaOrBust:


Well he clearly preferred wine to water. The exact opposite of what we are advised to do to live long!!
All health experts are always saying, “Drink water, drink water, water, water, water!!!”

I guess that's another reason he is a small god ..
He had prostate cancer and got cured of it in 2014

Officialgarri:
I guess that's another reason he is a small god ..
He had prostate cancer and got cured of it in 2014

No, what it shows is that there’s a lot we don’t know. 1000 years from now it may be found that health experts of today were full of shít!

Officialgarri:

I'm currently sipping from a bottle of Heineken in honour!

Note well: Heineken is NOT wine
He said WINE!!

Happy birthday prof

i love the fact that he still worships his tradituonal rekigion rather than imported one

Cultists

He just sounds like a trouble maker tbh

The true Legend!

CanadaOrBust:


Note well: Heineken is NOT wine
He said WINE!!

Lol, that's what I had

CanadaOrBust:

Note well: Heineken is NOT wine He said WINE!!

my boss I hail sir. Long time bro. How is everything?

Without Christ. He is nothing.

He is one of the great minds, and his footprint will never be erased. That is what happens when you discover a path that was meant for you.. In today's generation, their path is the one that leads to money.. Pathetic! To discover your path in business, visit www.bloghomies.com

Happy birthday grandpa

Hmmm

Happy birthday erudite Professor Wole Soyinka.

Happy birthday to Bros Kongi! Wole Soyinka is a legend. You have forever etched your name on the sands of time, may we always remember.

Las Las, ordinary Buhari decieved him.