Wole Soyinka collect Nobel Prize in Literature for 1986. To understand that achievement, person need look beyond award photograph: the Nigerian writer don already build plenty work for drama, poetry, novels and criticism. This na history of that recognition, no be announcement say e collect new prize today.
Dem born Soyinka for Abeokuta for 1934. E study for Nigeria and Britain, and e work for Royal Court Theatre for London. Nobel biography also record say e return Nigeria for 1960 to study African drama. Im career join book learning with the practical work wey performance need.
E start the 1960 Masks and later Orisun Theatre Company. Those facts matter because actors, rehearsal and audience na wetin bring play to public; writer name alone no fit do am. The theatre groups wey e help create form important part of the achievement.
Soyinka dey write for English, but Yoruba stories, beliefs and performance traditions dey deep inside im work. Nobel account also show connection with European drama. If person call the work only imported theatre, e go miss how Soyinka creatively bring different traditions together.
Im plays include The Lion and the Jewel and Death and the King's Horseman. E also write memoir and essays. New readers fit compare one scene wey actors perform with the printed words, to notice wetin body movement, music and silence add to the meaning.
The lasting value of the 1986 award na invitation to meet the work directly. Prize fit establish historical honour, but e no fit replace reading, staging or discussing the writing. Schools and theatre groups fit use Soyinka career explore all these activities and build their own thoughtful response.