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Wole Soyinka

13 July 1934 – present

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist and a leading figure in African literature. Known for plays such as Death and the King's Horseman, he became the first African laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. He has also been a prominent political activist and critic of authoritarian rule.

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Life events

Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria
13 July 1934

Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka was born in Abeokuta, in western Nigeria.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Studied at the University of Leeds
1954 – 1957

He studied English literature at the University of Leeds in England.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Returned to Nigeria
1960

He returned to Nigeria to research and develop African drama.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Imprisoned during the Nigerian Civil War
1967 – 1969

He was arrested and held in solitary confinement for nearly two years.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of Death and the King's Horseman
1975

One of his most acclaimed plays, based on a real colonial-era incident.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature
16 October 1986

He became the first African writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Published memoir You Must Set Forth at Dawn
2006

His memoir recounted decades of political activism and exile.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Published Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth
2021

His first novel in nearly five decades, a satirical work on Nigerian society.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓