By Kingston Magare 2.10.2025
World acclaimed playwright and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka known for criticising the naming of national edifices after individuals has no problem accepting the National Theatre Iganmu Lagos being named after him.
Professor Soyinka said at the reopening of the renovated edifice which hosted the 1977 World Festival of Black Arts and Culture said he accepted the renaming of the edifice after him because of the history behind the iconic theatre built during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
The National Theatre has been christened the “Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts” by administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings. First of all, I’m notorious for having criticised any appropriations, personal appropriations of public monuments by some of our past leaders, which would end up that everything is named after them,” he said.
“I have been guilty of saying other people do not merit this kind of monumental dedication, and then I had to stand up in public and watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator. It just didn’t seem well with me.
“If eating one’s word produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words.”
President Tinubu said the renaming was his personal decision and not influenced by any political agenda.
“No conspiracy anywhere. I did it,” the president said. “You are a gem and talent. You are one of the greatest assets of the world, the continent and the country Nigeria. So, it couldn’t have been anything else. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre. And I’m glad you are here to accept the honour.”
Wole Soyinka