@op,you forgot to add this.... "Wole Soyinka founded Pyrates Confraternity when he was a student in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1952"

86 , how time flies. Happy birthday to him. Check my signature to buy intelligent dispenser. Best quality North America product with warranty

[quote] who did we offend in this country? Imagine having someone this cerebral in a country ruled by a dunce.

Hushpupi's gay thread hit 8 pages. Let us promote Wole Soyinka's thread to double that, if not for anything, to prove that we celebrate our iconic figures that make our country proud.

Wole Soyinka famously published a full page newspaper advert where he rubbished IBB for wishing him a happy 80th birthday.

He cofounded the famous pirates confraternity, whose objectives were to fight for the rights of black students.

He finished with an upper second class degree from the University of Leeds.

He went through three/four wives and was recently diagnosed with cancer.

He and Obasanjo intensely hate each other, I hope to understand why some day.

He and Chinua Achebe respected each other.

He has a deep, powerful and commanding voice that gets everyone's attention whenever he speaks.

Dear Nairalanders, write your impressions about Wole Soyinka even if you quote others like the OP, this is a man we must celebrate in the face of Hushpupi, Magu. And perhaps, the education Moderators can serialize exploits of Nigerian academics abroad who can inspire the readers. News from Hushpupi, Magu, PDP and APC can be very depressing.

PS: I hope Nollywood does a movie on him soon.

19 He is one of the founders Pyrates Confraternity

OP you forgot to add helping Buhari to Power!!!

Happy Birthday to the 1 literary icon.

yemiosinbajo:
Damn, Soyinka is not an Ogun worshiper. He is an atheist! The first fact on your list is arrogantly wrong!!

Lol, who told you he isn't an ogun worshipper?

Good observation.

jrusky:
No 6.

Every reasonable members read that No 6 again and again. Then keep the fact in your heart for future references

Sammy07:

Lol, who told you he isn't an ogun worshipper?

He said so

Happy Birthday to this awesome Enigmatic Yoruba leader, Professor Wole Shoyinka . Thanking Ela for another additional age to yours.

Sammy07:

Lol, who told you he isn't an ogun worshipper?

Are you really sure he worships Ogun or revere him?

Happy Birthday to the literary colossus!

Prof Wole Soyinka is one of the foremost atheists and irreligionists in Nigeria and Africa.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Africa

In his book, "Climate of Fear: The Quest for Dignity in a Dehumanized World", which was published in 2007, he said, "I already had certain agnostic tendencies—which would later develop into outright atheistic convictions— so it was not that I believed in any kind of divine protection."

In an interview with the Academy of Achievements in 2009, while answering a question about religion, he said: "I learned very early of traditional deities (of the) Yorùbá: Ogun, for instance, God of Iron, the Road, Poetry, et cetera; Shango, God of Lightning.

"I found the traditional religions far more fascinating, because they didn’t force me to go to the regular service and dress up and things like that. A bit more relaxed, more humanist in my view. But it didn’t mean that I didn’t like the other religions either. I was a member of the church choir quite early, because I liked music, and in any case, as a son of the headmaster who was also a deacon...

"I think both my parents tried too hard, so I rebelled quite early and found myself more attuned to a comparative approach to religions, comparative." https://achievement.org/achiever/wole-soyinka/#interview

He considers Ogun as his Muse (a source of inspiration and patron) but doesn't worship him as God.

Therefore, he's an atheist not an Ogun worshipper.

Good piece!Obj backed him to steal or recover Ori-Olokun?

yemiosinbajo:


He said so

gensteejay:

Are you really sure he worships Ogun or revere him?

Happy Birthday to the literary colossus!

Go and read his book "Dawn or Idanre" you'll see where he said it.

congratulations

hbd llnp

And why is the fact that he co-founded a fraternity that would soon become a menace, duplicated and have a spillover on to the streets today where our youths now take joy in committing all sorts of atrocities and murdering themselves in brute fashion.

I wonder if he ever spoke on this topic or to call the deviants to order in regret.

Toosure70:
Truly some people are cursed. Senseless comment.

That is your business. It does not change the fact that he was 50 years in 1983. Is that not an uncommon fact about him?

Officialgarri:
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:

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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!

You have done a very good research work on our own Prof Woke Soyinka, you deserve an award.

Happy Birthday to the Nobel Laureate as he celebrates his 86th birthday today. May the good Lord grant him more healthy years.
AMEN

Happy birthday Kongi...More grace Sir!

Happy birthday 2 an icon

Happy birthday sir, a great icon

OmoOduduwa01:
@op,you forgot to add this.... "Wole Soyinka founded Pyrates Confraternity when he was a student in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1952"

You made it sound like he founded Pirates Confraternity alone! There were six other members besides him and he was the youngest. The Fraternity then was meant as a challenge to the stiff demands of student social life modelled on the English lifestyle, but like everything else in Nigeria, the Cause was adjusted by the succeeding generation of students.

Happy birthday to Wole Soyinka.

Double faced man

Sammy07:


Go and read his book "Dawn or Idanre" you'll see where he said it.

Do you have soft copies of some of his books?

Happy birthday sir !

Gerrard59:


That is your business. It does not change the fact that he was 50 years in 1983. Is that not an uncommon fact about him?

You're very impossible. Think you can reach up to Soyinka's age? No way!

You didn't state the fact where he was a cultist and was involved in 1 or 2 killings

Happy birthday sir

ChoCho54:
Grandpa of cultism

Son of Hate, Child of Perdition.