Wole Soyinka, British Library

Wole Soyinka is a literary polymath who works across theatre, poetry, and prose. The first African writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, he is known for politically enquiring and socially engaged work.

He made his name in 1960 with the satirical play A Dance of the Forest. Coinciding with the start of Nigerian Independence, it took a searching look at the nation’s post-colonial future. Since then, the country’s political fortunes have continued to make an impact on Soyinka’s life and writing. During the nation’s Civil War, he spent twenty two months in prison after his appeal for a ceasefire provoked accusations of support for Biafran rebels.

Soyinka is a writer rich in experience as in education. His non-fiction reflects this breadth of a knowledge; in 2012, he published Of Africa, a survey of the continent’s past, present and future which faced up to challenges ranging from ethnic tensions to theocratic rule.

On February 15, Soyinka comes to talk at the British Library. Given the scope and variety of his life’s work, this is sure to prove a fascinating event.