We look forward to gather around our special guest, a panel of esteemed fellow writers and experts to share insights and perspectives on his life and achievements
THE Academy of The Kingdom of Morocco which has announced it is staging a special roundtable to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Wole Soyinka, “playwright, novelist, poet and essayist, the first African writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.”
Organised in partnership with the Accra-Ghana-based Pan African Writers Association, PAWA, the event is yet another of the international events being staged to “honor Wole Soyinka and his significant contributions to literature,” according to a release from the Academy.
The event will feature Symposium, Poetry Readings, Gala Night, and will be held at The Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Rabat, as well as virtually via Zoom, disclosed Dr Wale Okediran, PAWA’s Secretary-General.
The Academy in its public announcement states, “We look forward to gather around our special guest, a panel of esteemed fellow writers and experts to share insights and perspectives on his life and achievements.”
About the Academy:
Founded on October 8, 1977 by the King Hassan II with the objective of contributing to the development and promotion of scientific research, particularly in the fields of humanities, culture and arts, the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco is a scholarly national academy based in Rabat.
Consisting 60 membersn — 30 resident members, of Moroccan nationality, and 30 associate members, of other nationalities, the academy is located along Avenue Mohammed VI, south of Rabat, adjoining that of the other Moroccan academic institution – the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technologies. It specialises in exact, natural and technical sciences.
In 2021, the Academy was reorganised by law n° 74-19 promulgated by dahir n° 1-21-02 of February 5, 2021. It now includes three institutes: the Higher Academic Authority for Translation; the Academic Arts’ Institute and the Royal Institute of Research on the History of Morocco.
About WS90 celebration: This comprises a coterie of events and programmes straddling several centres of the world, notably, Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, London Florence, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, South Africa, among others. The core of the programing conception is borne by the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, WSICE, which has locked down the entire month of July for the celebration.
About WSICE 2024
The WS90/WSICE2024 theme is “E.N.I.O.G.U.N – Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding and Nation-Building” — a summation of the over seven decades commitment and struggles of Soyinka as a nationalist, patriot, and humanist — as can be gleaned from his voluptuous creative works and consistent public engagement.
In particular, the theme E.N.I.O.G.U.N is to sum up his lifelong commitment to the cause of nation-building through his relentless fight for the national interest that would ensure good governance for the wellbeing of the general citizenry. While the theme domiciles appreciation of Soyinka’s commitment to his birth country, Nigeria, it is by extension an appreciation of his global service to humanity in general, which has seen him advocating for justice, freedom and respect for the rights and freedom of citizens all over the world. The theme will be the focus of all the programme items of the edition.
WS 90/WSICE 2024: Programmes
The celebration will embrace several programming ideas that have been the features of the WSICE since its birth, including, Essay Writing, Advocacy, Do Your Own Thing & Performances. Essentially, the programme is designed to celebrate the values and virtues of Soyinka all grounded in his struggles to ensure social and cultural JUSTICE, FREEDOM from all forms of shackles and, respect for the fundamental human and civil RIGHTS of all.
Reflecting on the theme E.N.I.O.G.U.N – E-Engaging N-National I-Interest O-n G-ood Governance U-nderstanding and N-ation-B-uilding for WSICE 2024, Dr. Teju Kareem, Executive Producer of the WSICE, stated:
“Prof. Soyinka has pursued the betterment of society through his support for freedom and the common good of all irrespective of age, class, gender, religious or political persuasions — making his work a global service to humanity. His career spanning academia, literature, and activism exemplifies a profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world, thus encapsulating the essence of E.N.I.O.G.U.N as both a personal and a universal pursuit.
