Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has sensationally disclosed that he has made arrangement for his transition.
Soyinka, who turned 90 years on July 13, 2024, and whose birthday was celebrated across the globe, made the disclosure during an interview with Larry Madowo, host of the Glo-sponsored African Voices Changemakers and Playmakers series on CNN.
The interview was first broadcast on CNN on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Towards the end of the interview, in which Soyinka spoke among other things, about writing, activism, life in prison and the Nobel Prize in Literature, which he won in 1986, Madowo asked him: “Now that you have your own legal piece of earth here, what is your new future?”
Responding, Soyinka said he does not want to be morbid, hinting that his transition is his future, adding that he has already made arrangement for that within the estate.
Madowo, taken aback by the distinguished writer’s response, laughing, said: “That is the most morbid answer anybody has ever given me. ‘I have made arrangement for my death?”
Soyinka again responded: “Many people don’t like to hear it. As I say all the time. I won’t say it here. In fact, CNN, everybody knows what we are talking about. It is where we are all headed. It’s a future for everybody.”
Still, Madowo interjected, saying, “But before you die… ”
However, Soyinka later toned down his response and gave a more realistic and less morbid answer, saying that in terms of productivity the immediate thing is to go on a vacation.
“But in terms of productivity the immediate thing is to go on a vacation. Take a resolution which will be atttested judicially, not grant any more interviews, certainly not writing, but simply trying to resume certain activities which gave me pleasure, which I consciously and rigorously cut off to be able to pursue my vocation. Because I’m not going to sit on it.
“I would also get into a vehicle, somewhere, I don’t care, in the world and sit for a week or two weeks to be just a tourist. I’m looking forward to that,” Soyinka maintained.