Nigeria’s enthusiasm toward WS has been highlighted by overwhelming columns, newspaper pages, commentaries, and messages. WS is sacred in our minds for writing so many great eminent works.
One of the world’s most prestigious writers, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka (WS) recently marked his 89th birthday.
Nigeria’s enthusiasm toward WS has been highlighted by overwhelming columns, newspaper pages, commentaries, and messages. WS is sacred in our minds for writing so many great eminent works.
He’s known for his prestigious and prolific output and masterpieces among others like The Interpreters, Season of Anomy, The Lion and the Jewel, Death and the King’s Horsemen, A Dance of the Forests, Abiku, The Open Sore of a Continent, The Man Died, The trials of Brother Jero, and Madmen and Specialists.
WS is unique. We listen to everything he says. We admire him all the time, especially as his age in number climbs. His age with grace always seems to win the race. His age never catches with him. But with the years, he grew into a beautiful person.
WS @ 89 is a Lion in the wasteland called Nigeria ruled by hollow men. For most of his 89 years, WS fought and still fights hollow men in charge of a wasteland of unproductive, unutilized potential, and rendered incapable of producing material or services of value. He fought brokenness and loss of value, vitality, and fertility in the wasteland.
He fought against the social, psychological, emotional, and moral collapse of the wasteland. WS mourns the unfulfilled lives of the “wasted generation” dying daily in the wasteland. He railed against hollow men who buried Nigeria in a stagnant state.
He ridiculed and tormented them for their moral blindness, spiritual stupor, and their inability to see the truth and acknowledge the reality of their foolishness.
Like the Lion, WS truly is a symbol of power, bravery, courage, strength, fearlessness, and ferocity. These attributes contribute as a building block of his success as a writer and activist.
The Lion depicts a majestic personality, a born leader, unemotional, strong-willed and determined, independent and self-sufficient. He is extremely confident, not easily defeated or discouraged, a risk taker, and competitive. He depicts grace, power, courage, equality and justice.
WS possesses similar personality attributes. If we take a closer look at the majestic life of a Lion, we can clearly see all the leadership qualities in WS which are mandatory qualities of a successful leader for human beings. WS is first among equals and a leader of leaders.
WS, the distinguished writer of the contemporary world is greatly honored by all the celebrations surrounding his 89th birthday and all the encomiums showered on him. Happy birthday to our Lion and our Jewel… Long may you live!