Nobel Laureate and literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka, has shared the challenges he faced after becoming the first sub-Saharan African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka disclosed that the prestigious award not only brought global recognition but also exposed him to significant personal risks, especially due to his political activism.

Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize for his “wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence,” but he explained that the honor came with a sense of isolation. “I felt much relieved when another African won it,” Soyinka said. He noted that the prize placed new expectations on him, particularly because of his African heritage, which expanded his constituency and further exposed him to danger in Nigeria’s political environment.

He reflected on how his outspoken stance and refusal to compromise on his beliefs intensified the threats against him. Soyinka highlighted the peril he faced during the dictatorship of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998. He revealed that Abacha, who was known for his brutal regime, would have been “a happy man” if he had succeeded in hanging him. “If he had been able to put on his CV that he hanged a Nobel laureate,” Soyinka remarked, referencing the death sentence Abacha declared against him “in absentia.”

Soyinka, who managed to escape Nigeria on a motorcycle via the Benin border during Abacha’s rule, returned to the country in 1999 after democracy was restored. He also noted that Abacha had to settle for executing activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, further demonstrating the extreme dangers faced by critics of the regime.

Reflecting on his personal life, Soyinka revealed that he prefers to celebrate his birthdays by retreating into nature. Having turned 90 on July 13, 2024, he said, “I don’t feel 90… Usually, what I do on my birthdays is disappear into the forest.”

Soyinka’s contributions to literature and his fearless advocacy for human rights continue to resonate globally, despite the risks that came with his illustrious career.