Exactly 11 years ago, on July 13, 2013, the world celebrated the 79th birthday of Professor Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel laureate and iconic playwright. In a rare exclusive interview, Soyinka’s eldest wife, Chief (Mrs.) Laide Soyinka, opened up about the personal and social life of her renowned husband.
Initially, Mrs. Soyinka was hesitant to comment, as some had interpreted her reticence as an attempt to avoid criticizing the world-acclaimed writer. However, this reporter persistently pursued the opportunity to hear her untold stories about the making of the “King of Literature in Africa.”
According to Mrs. Soyinka, she felt most proud of her husband when he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, just as the tragic bombing of renowned Nigerian journalist Dele Giwa took place. “That was the crowning glory of his literary achievements. That was the international stamp of authority that he is the King of Literature in Africa, indeed, in the Black World,” she said.
Mrs. Soyinka also revealed the romantic origins of her relationship with Soyinka, tracing it back to their days at the University College, Ibadan (UCI), where they first met. She explained that while Soyinka was a contemporary of the late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, both were ahead of her in the academia.
“We met at the University College, Ibadan,” she said. “I had been admitted to read Arts.” She noted that Soyinka did not complete his bachelor’s program at UCI, as the college had not yet been upgraded to a full-fledged university at the time.
Mrs. Soyinka reminisced about the flourishing romance at the premier university, where many notable Nigerians, including the late Professor Chinua Achebe, found their spouses. She was close friends with Achebe’s wife, Christiana, and recounted the vibrant social community of the time, which included the likes of Gamaliel Onasode, Emeka Anyaoku, and the late Chief Bola Ige.
“A whole lot of notable Nigerians picked their future partners from the University College, Ibadan. So, Wole and I were also caught in this fever of romance,” she said.
