WOLE SOYINKA.webp
The Digest:

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has revealed his mixed feelings about the renaming of the National Arts Theatre after him, admitting he had considered the iconic edifice "irredeemable." The renowned writer and critic stated he was willing to "eat his words" in exchange for the building's remarkable renovation, framing the tribute as a worthwhile price for its restoration.

Key Points:
  • Prof. Wole Soyinka explained his acceptance of the National Arts Theatre renaming.
  • He admitted he had long considered the edifice "irredeemable" before its renovation.
  • Soyinka described accepting the honor with "mixed feelings" as a critic of such gestures.
  • He stated he felt like an "appropriator" by having his name on a public monument.
  • The Nobel laureate credited the Bankers' Committee for the "monumental turnaround."
  • He conceded he was willing to "eat his words" for the theatre's successful revamp.
  • The comments were made at the reopening of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture.
This acceptance marks a significant moment, where a lifelong critic of political appropriation acknowledges tangible progress, even at the cost of a personal principle.

Sources: Daily Post