Inspiring Nigeria's political dawns
Uchenna Izundu talks to Noble Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, about Nigeria’s politics in his new memoir, You Must Set Forth At Dawn.
Tension was rife in Nigeria as the country swore in its new president, Umar Musa Yar'Adua, on May 29 as his appointment by his predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo, was marred by allegations of election fraud that left an estimated 200 people dead in clashes all over the country.
Professor Wole Soyinka , Africa’s first winner of the Noble Prize for Literature in 1986, has been extremely critical of Nigeria’s presidential election and his views on the country’s previous military regimes has forced him in exile to save his life. His plays, novels, poems, and essays have extensively examined democracy and human rights using an intriguing mix of Yoruba mythology and western imagery. In his new memoir, You Must Set Forth At Dawn (Methuen, May 2007 £19.99) Wole shares powerful memories and playful anecdotes about his adult life in Nigeria as his beloved and beleaguered homeland has veered between colonialism, dictatorship, and democracy.
Why did you write this memoir?
I got sick and tired of reading stupid monographs and couldn’t believe some of the presumptions, lies, and distortions about me by confident know-it-alls. I felt like I was being eaten alive with them probing into one’s very existence and theorizing with the utmost confidence. When I began I didn’t want to write my life story, but about that period, and I think people who try to fill these gaps in desperation sometimes concoct all kinds of lies.
What did you leave out from the book because there wasn’t enough space?
I wanted to write more about my late friend, Femi Johnson. I enjoy writing more about other people than myself, but my editor said the book was meant to be about me, not Femi. I also cut out very bitter passages as I made the mistake of first writing this memoir about my negative experiences which began to colour everything. There are hints of these throughout the book.
What did you think of Nigeria’s presidential election?
The violence and fraud that characterized the elections were established from the very top by the president. How can you declare election results when your opponents have been disqualified on the eve of the election to make way for the anointed one? Obasanjo has made us a laughing stock on the African continent and within the international community. This will be his legacy and even his positive achievements will be completely obscured.
Did you vote?
I did not vote because I am not registered as a voter. In all fairness I come in and out of Nigeria and don’t reside there continuously, but the story of millions of others was that people wanted to vote but couldn’t.
How would you describe your relationship with Obasanjo? Your critics don’t understand why you didn’t criticize him when he was first elected and wonder whether this was out of tribal loyalty as you are both Yorubas.
We’ve been on a roller coaster since we first met. For Obasanjo’s first coming a lot of allowance was made for him because he had a lot of garbage to clear up. Obasanjo was meant to have an interim regime until there were proper elections. People love to exaggerate and forget the general mood of Nigeria with his first arrival. The battle between us came with his second [presidential] coming as he didn’t win it.
What are your views on the West’s efforts to eradicate poverty from Africa with campaigns like Live 8 and Tony Blair’s efforts to put increased African aid on the G8 agenda?
The level of poverty in Africa destabilizes our projects and we need a certain level of economic buoyancy to prosper. It’s not altruistic and is in their own interests, but why not if they benefit and our people are dragged up to cope better with things like AIDS and provide water and electric power? I always squirmed at the ‘We are the world’s’ first effort and I hate philanthropy. It reduces one’s dignity and self respect and portrays us with a beggar’s bowl in all directions. However, I do admire those who mobilize those who are disadvantaged. I don’t criticize those who make the effort but we’ve left ourselves in alienated from leadership. Whether it works depends on African leadership.