Nobel laureate Soyinka to host forum

Nobel laureate Soyinka to host forum

By Nancy Hsu

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Prize-winning author in exile for his
political outspokenness against the Nigerian government, is hosting
an open forum titled "Culture and Identity" at 6 p.m. tonight in
Dickson Auditorium.

"It is an honor for us to have Dr. Soyinka speak to UCLA," said
Muadi Mukenge, the academic coordinator of the James S. Coleman
African Studies Center. "Presently, Nigeria is under a military
government which aborted the Democratic elections that were held.
There’s been a lot of opposition to that government ­
including Soyinka (for his literature against the Nigerian
regime)."

Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. His
many hats include playwright, essayist and novelist.

Many of Soyinka’s works, such as the novel "The Interpreters,"
his prison diary "The Man Died" and the play "Death and the King’s
Horsemen," are all social commentaries.

Although he writes mainly in English, Soyinka’s works explore
the African world view and are steeped in Yoruba mythology, poetic
imagery and dramatic idioms. In addition to having established the
1960 Masks, a semi-professional drama group, Soyinka founded the
first English-speaking Nigerian professional theater troupe, Orisun
Theater.

Critical of the government, the Nigerian native was imprisoned
from 1967 to 1969 during the country’s civil war for his outspoken
views. "The Man Died" is a chronicle of that experience.

Soyinka was scheduled to appear at UCLA in October, but his
passport was seized by Nigerian officials, Mukenge said. He later
left the country by other means, and is now giving lectures across
the country.