Opinion

Wole Soyinka Slams U.S. Over ‘Inhuman’ Visa Reinterview

Published

12 months ago

September 11, 2025

Wole Soyinka Visa Reinterview: The Nobel Laureate declines U.S. Consulate’s invite for 9/11 reinterview, calling it strange, inhuman, and symbolic

Wole Soyinka Visa Reinterview invitation from the United States Consulate has sparked a wave of commentary after the Nigerian Nobel Laureate publicly rejected the summons, describing it as bizarre, untimely, and dehumanising.

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In an exclusive interview with TheNEWS/PMNEWS on Tuesday, 9 September, Soyinka disclosed he had received a visa reinterview notice scheduled for Thursday, September 11 — a date he found symbolically insensitive, given its global weight.

Initially suspecting a scam, Soyinka said the letter appeared to be part of an “advance fee fraud” scheme.

However, upon confirming its authenticity, he expressed shock and concern. “It was very strange,” he said, reflecting on his longstanding, respectful relationships with U.S. diplomatic officials.

The Wole Soyinka Visa Reinterview refusal is not merely personal.

Soyinka stressed the broader implications of such a process, describing it as potentially humiliating, especially for law-abiding citizens who have built legitimate lives abroad.

“It must be a horrible thing… horrifying, inhuman and dehumanising,” he said.

Beyond the administrative strangeness, Soyinka took issue with the date itself — September 11 — which he sees as a day of mourning and global reflection.

“I’m a bit superstitious. I’m not going anywhere near there on 9/11. No way,” he said, calling on the U.S. to treat the day with more reverence.

Soyinka also questioned the political climate behind such reinterview demands, describing the current American leadership as resembling a “white Idi Amin.”

He voiced concerns over safety and purpose, noting he would not willingly walk into uncertainty “because I don’t know what is waiting for me on the other side of the door.”

The Wole Soyinka Visa Reinterview incident has opened a deeper conversation about the treatment of travellers and migrants, as well as the diplomatic protocols that shape global mobility.

Soyinka suggested that rather than bureaucratic rigidity, what the U.S. may now need is something far more spiritual: “Perhaps what the United States needs right now is an exorcist.”

Though he declined the invitation, Soyinka said the episode was useful in exposing imbalances in international relations and immigration systems.

Also read: US Student Visa Revocations Hit 6,000 in 2025 Crackdown

“People like me are nomadic anyway. But for others, it’s a terrifying prospect,” he concluded.

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Opinion

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

23 hours ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

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Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”