Why Wole Soyinka Accepted National Theatre Renaming Despite Past Criticism of Monument Politics

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Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has opened up on why he accepted the honour of having the National Theatre renamed as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, despite his well-known criticism of past leaders for personalizing national monuments.

Soyinka admitted that he initially had mixed feelings, pointing out that “everything in Nigeria is often named after leaders,” but in his view, only a fraction truly deserve such recognition.

“At one point, I even publicly challenged one of your predecessors in Abuja because of these naming events,” he recalled.

He explained that after reflecting on the history of theatre in Nigeria and the contributions of his predecessors, he accepted that “someone has to carry the can.” He joked that since a group of bankers “using some of my ‘money’” decided to honour him, he had no strong reason to reject it.

In his trademark wit, Soyinka recounted how he once dismissed the National Theatre as a “slum” and even suggested it should be demolished. But following its transformation, he admitted he had to eat his words.

“Well, if eating one’s words produces a muscle like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words, and I want to congratulate you for doing what I considered and pronounced impossible,” he said.

The renaming of the National Theatre not only celebrates Soyinka’s global impact in literature and culture but also cements his place as a symbol of Nigeria’s enduring creativity and resilience.