In a surprising revelation that has stirred both local and international reactions, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka announced on Tuesday that the United States government had revoked his visa, effectively barring him from travelling to the country. The announcement came during a press conference at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
Soyinka, visibly calm but puzzled, told reporters that he had received no explanation for the action. “It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time,” he said. “I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”
The US Consulate officially informed him of the revocation through a letter that offered no specific reason for the decision. Soyinka admitted that he had begun reflecting on his past, trying to understand what might have triggered the move. “I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he stated.
The development has left many within the academic and literary circles stunned, especially given Soyinka’s long-standing relationship with American universities, literary institutions, and cultural organizations. For decades, he has lectured and collaborated extensively in the United States, contributing significantly to global literature and freedom of expression.
While the US Embassy has yet to issue a formal statement, the silence surrounding the revocation has fueled widespread speculation and debate. Many Nigerians see the action as a symbolic moment — one that challenges not just the rights of a celebrated intellectual but also the diplomatic respect accorded to voices of truth and conscience worldwide.
