Nigerian Leaders Eager to Step into Colonisers’ Shoes Despite Independence, Says Soyinka
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has warned that while Nigeria’s independence in 1960 brought joy, government representatives at the time were eager to step into the shoes of the departing colonisers.
The renowned playwright made the remarks on Thursday during “A Conversation with the Nobel Laureate” at the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos, as part of events marking the club’s 100th anniversary.
Speaking on his play, A Dance of the Forests, Soyinka explained that the work was inspired by the independence era.
He said revisiting the ideas behind the play today would make it “more cruel” than the original, emphasising the historical lessons it carried.
“As students abroad at the time of independence, we were very excited and wanted to return home quickly. We considered ourselves the Renaissance people, ready to show the colonisers what we had learned and improve on it,” Soyinka said.
“But we were alarmed by the behaviour of those leading the liberation. In many cases, they were only too eager to step into the shoes of our colonisers. A Dance of the Forests was a warning: let’s not glamorise our past, lest we fall into the pit dug for us by the departing colonisers.
“If I had to rewrite the play today, I would stress that warning even more. Didn’t we warn you? Yet you saw the pit and still fell into it. It would be far more cruel than the original.”
Soyinka also cautioned against tyranny, noting that it is not limited to those in government but also includes citizens who reject alternative views, especially during elections.
“To understand tyranny, we must link it with justice. Those capable of imposing tyranny originally come from among us. Citizens must avoid treating others as if they possess irresistible power. Total intolerance, especially during elections, is a form of tyranny that we must recognise in ourselves,” he said.
The Nobel laureate also criticised global powers for perpetuating tyranny under the guise of rescue missions, condemning US intervention in Venezuela and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“What we are seeing is not new. It is massive robbery by external powers, often driven by control over oil. This does not mean I support leaders like Nicolas Maduro or others who harm humanity. Ultimately, people will decide their own fate,” Soyinka said.
He urged young people to use democratised technology and communication tools to organise and shape their own future.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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