By Sola Ojewusi
On Saturday, December 21, 2024, the Council and Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) paid a courtesy visit to Professor Emeritus Wole Soyinka, the iconic playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist, at his Ijegba Country Home. This visit, part of the university’s fourth-quarter 2024 programs, was a tribute to the Nobel laureate’s profound contributions to African literature, culture, and global civilization.
A former Professor of Comparative Literature at OAU (then University of Ife) from 1975 to 1999, Prof. Soyinka was conferred the title of Emeritus Professor by the university in 1999. The delegation, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simeon Adebayo Bamire, sought to express gratitude for Soyinka’s longstanding relationship with the institution and his remarkable impact during his years at Ife. The visit also aimed to discuss plans to immortalize his legacy through the establishment of the Wole Soyinka Centre of Excellence in African Literature, slated for 2025.
Celebrating the Ife Years
The productive years Prof. Soyinka spent at Ife were marked by notable achievements, including the publication of Ogun Abibiman, Myth, Literature and the African World, and the debut of his celebrated play Death and the King’s Horseman in 1976. Other works during this period include Opera Wonyosi, The Biko Inquest, and his autobiographical masterpiece, Ake: The Years of Childhood. His creative versatility extended to music and film with projects like I Love My Country and Blues for a Prodigal.
Discussions with the Laureate
During the visit, Prof. Soyinka welcomed the delegation and raised concerns about environmental preservation in academic institutions, referencing his successful advocacy for the protection of OAU’s natural landscape during his tenure. The Vice-Chancellor briefed Soyinka on recent developments, including the university’s achievements under his leadership and the significant support received from First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for campus beautification.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Oyeniyi Okunoye, elaborated on the proposed Wole Soyinka Centre of Excellence. Envisioned as an international research hub, the Centre aims to preserve and promote Soyinka’s literary works while fostering scholarship in African and Black literatures. Prof. Soyinka expressed appreciation for the initiative but emphasized the importance of focusing on preserving Africa’s intangible cultural heritage over physical infrastructure.
A Promising Collaboration
The delegation concluded the visit with a vote of thanks from Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubola Babalola, who presented Prof. Soyinka with gifts and a commemorative frame. Both parties agreed to reconvene with a refined proposal to advance the Centre’s establishment.
This memorable engagement reaffirmed Prof. Wole Soyinka’s enduring legacy and his pivotal role in shaping African literary and cultural discourse. It also underscored OAU’s commitment to honoring its illustrious alumni and their contributions to global civilization.
