Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka

Tue, Apr 25
8 pm
$18.50

Wole Soyinka
In conversation with Michael Krasny
Tuesday, April 25

The first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Wole Soyinka
is a poet, playwright, and critic whose work reflects a wide cultural
perspective and a deep commitment to social justice. Born in
Nigeria, Soyinka blends African with European dramatic and literary
traditions in his writing to illustrate the drama and comedy of human
existence. Drawing on Yoruban and Western storytelling traditions,
Soyinka weaves powerful narratives with wordplay, social references,
and poignant allusions to folklore and mythology. Soyinka's hallmark
is his dramatic work, including "Kongi's Harvest," "Madmen and
Specialists," "The Road," and "Death and the King's Horseman."
During Nigeria's civil war, Soyinka was an outspoken advocate for
African democracy and justice. Arrested and accused of conspiracy in
1967, Soyinka surreptitiously wrote stories and essays on discarded
cigarette packages, toilet paper, and between the lines of hidden
books. His clandestine writing appears in "The Man Died: The Prison
Notes of Wole Soyinka." Exiled three times and marked for death at
least five separate times, Soyinka has chronicled his remarkable life
in several memoirs, including "Ake," and "You Must Set Forth at
Dawn," which describes his brave public and political life.

Venue:

Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco

Additional Info:

(415) 392-4400
www.cityarts.net