The Man Lives

The moment Soyinka accepted to sit down to a conversation; I recognised that it would be a waste and a shame to limit our exchanges to a single, narrow aspect of his life and work … Here was an opportunity that called for a broader consideration of his work – as an artist, intellectual and redoubtable advocate for human rights and justice. I had to seize it… His voice evinced no trace of fatigue. He answered my questions in a focused, attuned manner, his responses marked by characteristic candour and occasional acerbity…We revisited Biafra. We discussed the intersections between art and politics. He spoke about the frenetic pace of his activities and travels; his vexed relationship with Nigeria; the case for restructuring Nigeria; the uses and abuses of social media; his Olympian rages against sectarian fanaticism; his decision to destroy his green card after Donald Trump’s election as US President…