Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has turned down an invitation from the United States Consulate in Nigeria to attend a visa reinterview, scheduled for September 11. The globally acclaimed writer described the request as both “strange” and unnecessary.
Speaking in an interview with TheNEWS Online, Soyinka said he initially dismissed the email invitation—meant for B1/B2 visa holders—as a scam. “I thought it was these scammers who prey on those eager to get visas… only later did I realize it was genuine after careful checks,” he explained.
Soyinka stressed that his refusal was not out of personal offense, but rather due to how unusual the request felt. He suggested the consulate’s letter might even have been machine-generated. “I have never received that kind of letter from any embassy. It was very strange,” he noted.
Beyond the oddity of the request, Soyinka took issue with the chosen date—September 11, a day of deep significance in the United States. To him, the date should be reserved for mourning and reflection, not routine interviews. “They should close down offices on that day, not invite people to have their visas taken away,” he said, adding that he would not engage with the US consulate on such a date.
Although he acknowledged having long-standing courteous relations with American diplomats, Soyinka made it clear that he had no interest in chasing visas or visiting places “where I am not wanted.” He also voiced concerns about the current state of US leadership, making veiled references to what he called a “white Idi Amin” in power.
The US Consulate in Lagos has yet to explain the rationale for its recent wave of reinterview invitations sent to Nigerians with B1/B2 visas.
