Wole Soyinka’s U.S. Visa Revoked Permanently

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that his United States visa has been permanently revoked by the U.S. government. The literary icon made the revelation during a media parley held on Tuesday at Freedom Park, Lagos, with the theme “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface!”

According to the distinguished playwright and author, he received the official notification from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos on Thursday, October 23. Soyinka read excerpts of the letter during the session, noting that the decision appeared to be connected to his outspoken criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. The letter, issued by the U.S. Consulate, stated in part:

“Dear Mr. Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States. Additional information became available after the visa was issued. This revocation refers only to the visa listed below.”

It listed the details as follows:
Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA
Visa classification (symbol): B1/B2
Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos

Soyinka, who currently resides in Nigeria, said he bears no resentment over the decision. He emphasized that he would continue to welcome Americans to his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, adding that his criticisms have always been directed at government policies, not the American people. “I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,” he said.

The Nobel Laureate reaffirmed his commitment to speaking against racism and injustice globally, stressing that he would never be silent in the face of oppressive or discriminatory policies, regardless of the government or country involved. He recalled that in December 2016, he tore his U.S. Green Card following Trump’s electoral victory, as a symbolic protest against what he described as divisive and intolerant politics.

Soyinka maintained that, as a global citizen, he will continue to speak truth to power and challenge policies that threaten human dignity and equality, insisting that his convictions remain unchanged despite the revocation.