Wole Soyinka

Summary

Wole Soyinka is a human^[1]. His place of birth was Ogun State^[2]. He was born on July 13, 1934^[3]. He worked as a playwright^[4], poet^[5], translator^[6], novelist^[7], and philosopher^[8]. He ranks in the top 0.66% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,953 views/month, #6,602 of 1,000,298).^[9]

Key Facts

• Born in Ogun State^[2], Wole Soyinka…
• Wole Soyinka was born on July 13, 1934^[3].
• Wole Soyinka's mother was Grace Eniola Soyinka^[10].
• Among Wole Soyinka's spouses was Folake Doherty Soyinka^[11].
• A child of Wole Soyinka was Olaokun Soyinka^[12].
• Wole Soyinka held citizenship in Nigeria^[13].
• Yoruba was Wole Soyinka's native language^[14].
• Wole Soyinka is identified as part of the Yoruba people ethnic group^[15].
• Wole Soyinka worked as a playwright^[4].
• Wole Soyinka's professions included poet^[5].
• Wole Soyinka worked as a translator^[6].
• Wole Soyinka's professions included novelist^[7].
• Wole Soyinka worked as a philosopher^[8].
• Wole Soyinka's professions included essayist^[16].
• Wole Soyinka's field of work was performing arts^[17].
• Wole Soyinka held the position of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador^[18].
• Among Wole Soyinka's employers was Harvard University^[19].
• Among Wole Soyinka's employers was University of Lagos^[20].
• Wole Soyinka was employed by Cornell University^[21].
• Wole Soyinka was employed by Yale University^[22].
• Wole Soyinka was employed by University of Nevada, Las Vegas^[23].
• Wole Soyinka was employed by Emory University^[24].
• Wole Soyinka was educated at University of Leeds^[25].
• Wole Soyinka's education included a stint at University of Ibadan^[26].
• Wole Soyinka's education included a stint at University of London^[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Wole Soyinka was born in Ogun State^[2]. He was born on July 13, 1934^[3]. His mother was Grace Eniola Soyinka^[10]. He is identified as part of the Yoruba people ethnic group^[15]. Yoruba was his native language^[14].

Education

Educated at University of Leeds^[25], a public research university^[28], in United Kingdom^[29], founded in 1904^[30], headquartered in Leeds^[31]; University of Ibadan^[26], a public university^[32], in Nigeria^[33], founded in 1948^[34], headquartered in Ibadan^[35]; University of London^[27], a university^[36], in United Kingdom^[37], founded in 1836^[38], headquartered in London^[39]; and Abeokuta Grammar School^[40], a school^[41], in Nigeria^[42], founded in 1908^[43].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include playwright^[4], poet^[5], translator^[6], novelist^[7], philosopher^[8], and essayist^[16]. Wole Soyinka's field of work was performing arts^[17]. Employers include Harvard University^[19], a private university^[44], in United States^[45], founded in 1636^[46], headquartered in Cambridge^[47]; University of Lagos^[20], a university^[48], in Nigeria^[49], founded in 1962^[50]; Cornell University^[21], a private university^[51], in United States^[52], founded in 1865^[53], headquartered in Ithaca^[54]; Yale University^[22], a private university^[55], in United States^[56], founded in 1701^[57], headquartered in New Haven^[58]; University of Nevada, Las Vegas^[23], a public research university^[59], in United States^[60], founded in 1957^[61], headquartered in Las Vegas^[62]; and Emory University^[24], a private university^[63], in United States^[64], founded in 1836^[65], headquartered in Atlanta^[66]. He held the position of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador^[18].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Season of Anomy^[67], The Interpreters^[68], Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth^[69], Harmattan Haze on an African Spring^[70], and The Lion and the Jewel^[71]. Things named for Wole Soyinka include Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa^[72], an award^[73], in Nigeria^[74], founded in 2005^[75].

Recognition

Awards received include Nobel Prize in Literature^[76], a literary award^[77], in Sweden^[78], founded in 1901^[79]; Nigerian National Order of Merit Award^[80], an award^[81], in Nigeria^[82], founded in 1979^[83]; Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards^[84]; Benson Medal^[85]; honorary doctor of Harvard University^[86]; and Weilheim Literature Prize^[87].

Personal Life

Wole Soyinka was married to Folake Doherty Soyinka^[11]. A child of him was Olaokun Soyinka^[12].

Why It Matters

Wole Soyinka ranks in the top 0.66% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,953 views/month, #6,602 of 1,000,298).^[9] He has Wikipedia articles in 29 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[88] He is known by 36 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[89]

Works attributed to him include Death and the King's Horseman^[90], a literary work^[91]; Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth^[92], a literary work^[93]; and The Interpreters^[94], a literary work^[95], founded in 1965^[96]. Entities named for him include Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa^[72], an award^[73], in Nigeria^[74], founded in 2005^[75].

FAQs

Where was Wole Soyinka born?

Wole Soyinka's place of birth was Ogun State^[2].

Who were Wole Soyinka's parents?

Wole Soyinka's mother was Grace Eniola Soyinka^[10].

Who was Wole Soyinka married to?

Wole Soyinka's spouses include Folake Doherty Soyinka^[11].

What did Wole Soyinka do for work?

Wole Soyinka worked as playwright^[4], poet^[5], translator^[6], novelist^[7], and philosopher^[8].

Where did Wole Soyinka go to school?

Wole Soyinka was educated at University of Leeds^[25], University of Ibadan^[26], University of London^[27], and Abeokuta Grammar School^[40].

What awards did Wole Soyinka receive?

Honors received include Nobel Prize in Literature^[76], Nigerian National Order of Merit Award^[80], Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards^[84], and Benson Medal^[85].