Wole Soyinka Released from Military Detention | October 1969
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- čas přidán 2. 05. 2019
- Footage of Wole Soyinka, the internationally known Nigerian playwright, speaking to a reporter after being released from 26 months of detention without trial by the military regime led by Major-General Yakubu Gowon.
He was one of 151 civilian detainees who were released after Gowon had their cases reviewed under a general amnesty. He had been jailed after his individual attempt to stop the civil war. This included an unauthorised entry into the about-to-secede Eastern Region.
Of his detention, Soyinka disclosed that he thought that he might have been "quietly done away with".
Soyinka's experience in detention much of it spent in solitary confinement inspired "The Man Died", a book published in 1972. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.
"Profile of Wole Soyinka."
adeyinkamakinde.blogspot.com/2...
Transcript of Interview:
REPORTER: Mr. Wole Soyinka, it's nice to have you back with us after some time. We all know you are a university lecturer, dramatist, a playwright of world class and not in any way a politician. Do you think you got yourself involved in politics in anyway before the authorities took you away some 26 months ago?
SOYINKA: "Of course I got myself involved in what was happening. I don't know whether you'd call it politics or not, I don't consider war politic. I believe war is a human problem and I am a human being. You're quite right to say I got myself involved , but you're right to say I am not a politician.
REPORTER: How do you feel about your release from detention after 26 months?
SOYINKA: My feeling is one of amazement, amazement that it happened at all. This is my only feeling. I knew I would be released sooner or later ... either that or I would be quietly done away with in some obscure cell. It was one of two things, so one of them has come to pass and I suppose it's just a fact.
REPORTER: What of your career at the university, in the drama world and all that?
SOYINKA: Well, that is my immediate concern. You know, we have lost so much time on many projects that we had, both theatrical and film, so many things have completely been ruined and damaged, so many possibilities of creative work have been retarded and as far as I am concerned my immediate business is put all right.
Source: Reuters News.
I'm often sad when I go online and see the history of the Europeans and the rest of the world clearly documented, but see little about Africa. I'm very glad to see new videos about Nigeria's history surfacing online. Let us shape the narrative of what is reported about Nigeria. Lets document today's events because it will be tomorrow's history.
"I don't consider war politics. I believe war is a human problem, and I am a human being"
Soyinka’s book based on his detention “The Man Died” makes for terrific reading. Highly recommend it
Wole had his accent refined long ago.
Mister, where are you digging up these treasures from? Thanks for the good work!
Is no one going to talk about how handsome Soyinka was in his prime?
At this point, Prof. Wole Soyinka couldn't have guessed The National Theatre would be renamed in his honour as a 90th birthday gift!
This channel is Gold! Wow 😮
We had one of his poem called Telephone Conversation. It was eye opening to many people..
Memories are made of this , I studied some of his works in high school here Kenya . Keep it up , upload more of this vintage videos .
Prof. Wole Soyinka is very brilliant and fearless. He had brought immeasurable honor to Africa.
THIS KIND OF FOOTAGE IS TIMELESS...FANTASTIC POST BY MR.MAKINDE
I read The Man Died and have been dying to see how WS looked at the time of his release.
Wole Soyinka always fearless
The great CP was probably in his 30tis @ this time & yet sounding so matured, wise & intelligent in a deep, introspective manner.
Adeyinka Makinde thank you for this footage as well others you have made available through this medium. Keep it up.
The Man died is highly recommended, infact which of Prof Kongi's work is not highly recommended. Thanks Prof for all you do for humanity.
This man is a National Treasure 👏
What a literary giant❤❤
Well done Adeyinka ,impressive archive library 👏..now my point 👉, Our intellectual class was destroyed by the military who had no business ruling Nigeria!!!..The african malaise of corruption also destroyed the building of our nation.!!