Prof Wole Soyinka has revealed he was disappointed by a statement made by the late renowned novelist, Prof Chinua Achebe, shortly after he (Soyinka) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.
Soyinka made this known in a chat with Okey Ndibe, aired on Channels Television’s Book Club.
Achebe once said, “The Nobel Prize did not make one the Asiwaju of African Literature.”
When asked how he felt about that statement at the time, Soyinka said;
“The subject was not even literature when he (Achebe) made that statement. I was disappointed that he created a nexus between my normal sociopolitical life and my normal way of articulating an opinion.
“It was almost like because I won the Nobel Prize, I have no right to offer,
to do what I used to do before all my life. I responded to it, even though I wanted to make light of it.”
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View previous comments…
Joe Ewoh
They are heavyweights as far the English literature is concerned.
Personally I feel Soyinka should have brought this up when Achebe was alive.
I don't rate one above the other, and it will be almost impossible for anyone to convince me to do so. I have read their materials and i know the weight they pull.
Achebe's work did not get as much recognition as it ought. He deserved to have got more accolades than he did.
I look forward to the moment when he would be conferred with the Nobel Peace prize award posthumously.
About the statement, it may not be untrue. He is human. Probably he was upset that he was brushed aside.
Personally I feel Soyinka should have brought this up when Achebe was alive.
I don't rate one above the other, and it will be almost impossible for anyone to convince me to do so. I have read their materials and i know the weight they pull.
Achebe's work did not get as much recognition as it ought. He deserved to have got more accolades than he did.
I look forward to the moment when he would be conferred with the Nobel Peace prize award posthumously.
About the statement, it may not be untrue. He is human. Probably he was upset that he was brushed aside.
Fela Biodun Idowu
One can posit here that it isn't polite to speak bad about a dead man, but it is also proper to understand that Soyinka's response was to a direct question from Okey Ndibe. If he wasn't asked about how he felt about Achebe's statement making light of his Nobel prize award, I doubt if he would have offered his opinion in the open, he has bottled it up until this moment.
Both of them are literary giants and a big pride to Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular.
Both of them are literary giants and a big pride to Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular.
Nworah Ekene
Wole have no right now to say anything against the dead, if there's any integrity in him, he should have respected Achebe, Chinua Achebe is not his class!.
Adeolu Alex Ladimeji
Instead of people to deliberate on educational and informational part of the issue with integrity, many will come here and tribalise their points. These two are world literary giants. Both had their styles approved and recognised in the world of literature. I hope you guys dont start to rubbish their great legacies through politics and stupid tribalism
Nelson Ebubechukwu
He is still jealous bcus Achebe's name might av been talked about again somewhere in the western world . Maybe the man (may his gentle soul rest in peace) was highly commended by the whites in the very present or otherwise of Soyinka. Well sir, Achebe(may his soul rest in peace) had died long time ago, their is no need being angry except u r hurt bcus ppl are talking about him more than you. It's God's not Man.
Ladan Hashim
Yes ,Chinua Achebe's " Things Fall Apart" was translated to 63 languages in the World unlike Professor Soyinka who's literature book could not be translated to any language in the world by and large it was his friend Frederick Foresight that influenced his Nobel Laurette not his literary work
Samuel Fernando
If Achebe was alive 2015 election he wouldn't had supported Buhari he will say it pure but Soyinka chaiii. His education became useless to me 2015.
If others support Buhari not likes of Soyinka a lot of people are looking up to him.
Achebe was a fulfilled man.
He turned down many things.
He lost interest in Anambra and Nigeria government when the FG let Chris control Anambra Governor(boys of Renegades he called Chris).
Achebe will never attend that charade of GCON honour to Abiola never.
Obasanjo wanted to give him honour he said No. 50cent same he turned it down. The guy just full of principle. He doesn't do politics but he kept it real during his time.
If others support Buhari not likes of Soyinka a lot of people are looking up to him.
Achebe was a fulfilled man.
He turned down many things.
He lost interest in Anambra and Nigeria government when the FG let Chris control Anambra Governor(boys of Renegades he called Chris).
Achebe will never attend that charade of GCON honour to Abiola never.
Obasanjo wanted to give him honour he said No. 50cent same he turned it down. The guy just full of principle. He doesn't do politics but he kept it real during his time.
Femi Martins
It ONLY goes to show Achebe was actually VERY jealous that prof won the Nobel prize.
Till date, the thing dey pain them.
Till date, the thing dey pain them.
Victor Divine
Wole soyinka should not have said so to a dead man because it makes no sense
