A conversation with Wole Soyinka

with Wole Soyinka
in History
on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 * * * * *

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A conversation with Wole Soyinka about Nelson Mandela

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Keywords:
Mandela
Nobel
Africa

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  • Comments 5
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    1. Mapetla  11/25/2008 07:49 PM Report

      Yeah, I saw that show and Wole was the greatest disappointment. His heaping praise over Nelson Mandela posed a moral dilemma for me. If Soyinka can condemn the megalomaniacal behavior of Nigerian despots Abacha and others, how can he justify calling Mandela an avatar, a demiurge, so on. That is reprehensible and irresponsible.

      When Mandela became president, he did not rectify one problem for working class Bantu. He did not do away with the bantustans, he only eased up the restrictive laws. But 87% of historic African soil is still in the hands of the settlers. Not one gold or diamond or platinum mine has been nationalized. Soweto is a place of vicious internecine violence. For this Soyinka sees fit to praise Nelson Mandela.

      Go ahead, Wole, continue deifying black leaders while the black masses suffer despicable horrors. I am glad Charlie Rose was able to expose Soyinka for a hypocrite and a servile flunky of the racist status quo.

    2. adejo abayomi  11/01/2008 09:36 PM Report

      HE IS LEGEND AND MY HERO.A TRUE NIGERIAN THAT FOUGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE CITIZEN OF NIGERIA.

    3. Shaft  08/18/2008 12:23 AM Report

      Mr. Soyinka is one of the legendary African poets with Nobel prize, but his life is dedicated in the US rather than in Africa. There are more African scholars in the US than in Africa, it could be due to fear of the regimes in Africa they are running away from. But, no matter what the reason is they should stay home and make the system function better meanwhile shapping the regimes adapt Democracy.

    4. Goke  08/15/2008 03:31 PM Report

      An excellent interview with Wole Soyinka on Mandela. Charlie you should have him and George Ayittey, for an hour to discuss the root cause of the African governments issues (Zimbabwe & Sudan crises) e.t.c with their analysis and recommendations too.

      Thanks....

    5. ben  08/13/2008 08:03 PM Report

      great interview. One of the least known great intellectuals sharing his thoughts on another great man.