ஹைளிங் கொங்கி அட் 76

Hailing Kongi at 76
Wole Soyinka, Noble Laurete and socio-political commentator had heeded the loud chimes of age as he clocks 76, July 13. He is regarded as the First black and West African Noble Laurete in Literature in 1986. Kongi as famously named by close friends, associate and members of the literati is also a Professor Emeritus of a rare kind, a writing of a rare scribble and a speaker of wit and ventilations of a rare garb.
Soyinka , a native of Isara Remo was born in 1934 at Abeokuta to Cannon Ayodele Soyinka and Grace Eniola Soyinka, a respected political activist and business woman. These individuals whom he personally christened “Essay” and “Wild Christian” in literary forms. The white haired international figure is regarded as one of the symbolic representation of intellectuals in black Africa. Soyinka who is also designated as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication belongs to the Ransome Kuti. The Ransome Kuti family have been known to have birthed great individuals like Grace Eniola Ransome Kuti ( Soyinka’s mother), Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the greatest Afrobeat king that ever lived, Beko Ransome Kuti, the fiery activist and medical practitioner, Olukoye Ransome Kuti, and Yemisi Ransome Kuti, the current Chairman, Nigerian Network of NGOs (NNNGO).
He received a primary school education in Abeokuta and attended secondary school at Government College, Ibadan. He then studied at the University College, Ibadan (1952–1954) where he founded the pirates confraternity (an anti-corruption and justice seeking student organization) and the University of Leeds (1954–1957) from which he received an First class honours degree in English Literature. He worked as a play reader at the Royal Court Theatre in London before returning to Nigeria to study African drama. He taught in the Universities of Lagos, Ibadan, and Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife). He became a Professor of Comparative Literature at the then University of Ife in 1975). He is currently an Emeritus Professor at the same university.
With his wealth of knowledge, he has churned out both drama, poetry and prose making him an indispensible treasure for generations in search for intellectual meaning. Soyinka is an ardent supporter of traditional religious values and has found a voice for African though through the English language. Soyinka amidst his age has stood his grounds on political happenings lending his voice to the ages of Nigerian Misadventure, from the biafran quagmire to the pre and post military days. He has also churned essays demanding for the democratic liberties that is still a mirage in the experience of the average Nigerian. Recently, he lent his voice once again to the political stalemate caused by President Yaradua’s illness alongside Tunde Bakare and many others under the aegis of The Save Nigeria Group and the recent unfavourable showcasing of Lagos by British Broadcasting Corporation. He is also known to have rejected national honours bestowed upon him by various Nigerian governments because of their lack of respect for human rights, corruption and other related issues.
In a bid to celebrate the creative and revolutionary years this living Icon, Project Preemptive, a stage production designed by Z-mirage Multimedia to restore the dignity of the black race after the Mutallab attempted bombings staged a play in his honour. The play which was written by Niyi Coker Jnr. and Segun Ojewuyi, both residents and lecturers in the US would address serious race issues and other issues pertaining to flight terrorism. A parade of 76 celebrities on the red carpet will be made to portray characters from Soyinka’s works. Preemptive Project is also set to use the occasion to revamp the dying stage culture in the country.
His work speak volumes about his award winning personality, his nation, his culture, his race and the political atmosphere Nigerian and Africans are bedevilled with.
His popular drama works are The Swamp Dwellers, The Lion and the Jewel, The Trials of Brother Jero,Kongi's Harvest ,The Road, Madmen and Specialists, Jero's Metamorphosis ,Death and the King's Horseman, Opera Wonyosi ,A Play of Giants, The Beatification of the Area Boy and King Baabu. His novels are The Interpreters, Season of Anomie, his memorable memoirs are The Man Died : Prison Notes, Aké: The Years of Childhood , Isara: A Voyage around Essay, Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years: a memoir 1946-65 and the recently published You Must Set Forth at Dawn.Soyinka’s Poetry Collection also present him as an all round creative genius some of which are Idanre and other poems, Mandela's Earth and other poems, Samarkand and Other Markets I Have Known, Abiku and "Telephone Conversation". Some of his essays are Neo-Tarzanism: The Poetics of Pseudo-Transition ,Art, Dialogue, and Outrage: Essays on Literature and Culture, Myth, Literature and the African World , "From Drama and the African World View" and The Burden of Memory The Muse of Forgiveness.