Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, says the United States government under President Donald Trump has revoked his visa without explanation, describing the action as a “witch-hunt.”
Speaking at a press conference held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos, the globally acclaimed writer revealed that he was formally notified of the revocation by the US Consulate. Soyinka said he was shocked by the decision, insisting he had committed no offence that could have warranted such a move.
“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,” the literary icon stated. “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.”
According to Soyinka, the US authorities offered no reason for their action, leaving him puzzled. “I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour that could justify this. So, I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America?” he asked.
Soyinka, who has enjoyed decades of collaboration with American universities and literary institutions, said the decision has forced him to cancel several upcoming engagements in the United States.
Observers within Nigeria’s academic and cultural communities have expressed surprise, describing the move as a diplomatic embarrassment given Soyinka’s status as one of Africa’s most respected intellectuals and a long-standing advocate of democracy and human rights.
The 1986 Nobel Prize winner’s relationship with the United States spans over five decades, during which he has lectured, written, and collaborated with several leading American institutions. His unexpected visa revocation now raises questions about US diplomatic tolerance and the treatment of global cultural figures.
