WOLE SOYINKA

Wole Soyinka Hope In Youth Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, speaks to The Associated Press during an interview at freedom park in Lagos, Nigeria, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. Wole Soyinka, Nigeria's Nobel-winning author, sees his country's many problems — misgoverning politicians, systemic corruption, violent extremists, and kidnapping bandits — yet he does not despair. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) (Sunday Alamba)LAGOS, Nigeria — (AP) — Wole Soyinka, Nigeria's Nobel-winning author, sees his country's many problems — misgoverning politicians, systemic corruption, violent extremists, and kidnapping bandits — yet he does not despair. Soyinka credits young Nigerians — about 64 million between 15 and 35 years of the country’s more than 200 million people — for trying to fundamentally reform the country. Similar to the setting of his novel, Soyinka said he feels the current system in Nigeria is not a “working, productive” one.

Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s Nobel-winning author, sees his country’s many problems — misgoverning politicians, systemic corruption, violent extremists, and kidnapping bandits — yet he does not despair.

2021 PEN America Literary Gala Corporate honoree Robert Iger, left, playwright Wole Soyinka, actress Jodie Foster and PEN/Audible Literary Service Award recipient Dr. Henry Louis Gates pose together at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in New York. PEN, the literary and human rights organization, required everyone to present proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test within 72 hours of the event. But PEN President Ayad Akhtar, the author and playwright, called the gala a kind of civic duty. According to PEN, around 500 people came to the gala, hundreds less than in recent years. Hosted by the actor-rapper Awkafina, the PEN gala was a defense of freedom of expression and a warning against the spread of lies.

The fall book season will be packed with new works by such high-profile authors as Jonathan Franzen, Sally Rooney and Colson Whitehead.

Soyinka will be attending this fall’s PEN America literary gala. “Wole Soyinka is a giant in world literature. His stature is proportionate to the momentous task of recognizing Professor Gates for his contributions to our understanding of history and culture." Gates and Soyinka, the 86-year-old novelist, playwright and poet, first met in 1973 when both were visiting Fellows at Clare College. PEN previously announced that Walt Disney Chairman and former CEO Robert A. Iger will receive the PEN America Corporate Honoree award, and will be introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka will be attending this fall’s PEN America literary gala.

This year's winners of the Anisfield-Wolf awards include novelist James McBride, former U.S. poet laureate Natasha Trethewey and science fiction great Samuel R.