A Conversation with Wole Soyinka
September 15, 2007
A prolific writer of essays, fiction and theater, Wole Soyinka’s plays have been staged throughout the world. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Soyinka is also one of Africa’s leading pro-democracy activists; in 1967 during the civil war in his native Nigeria he was imprisoned for his activism. Following his release two years later he went gone in and out of exile but remains a fiercely committed to democracy in Nigeria. Soyinka’s latest work is a memoir, You Must Set Forth At Dawn.
How would you describe the relationship between Africans and African Americans? Should there be a relationship between the two cultures or is that a “feel-good” sensibility that has no basis in fact? What are the barriers to an African/African-American alliance?
Appreciation Only
As a child of two 50’s social workers who raised their children in inner cities as a form of education, I appreciate your (few!) broadcasts greatly.
I will look, again, for more, here on WBGH online.
Thank you.
By lsb on January 06, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Need for Communication
We in the West need to communicate with our brothers and sisters in Africa and internationally all over the world. We did not stop being Africans when we were put into the slave ships. Our actions affect those living in the Mother Continent and vice versa. Africa is where our culture originated.
By Zhana on December 14, 2007 at 09:39 AM