Declare July 13 Wole Soyinka Day, Egba Monarch Charges FG

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on Tuesday, asked the Federal Government to declare July 13 every year, as Wole Soyinka Day.

The monarch, also called on the Federal Government, to confer the second highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Order of Nugeria (GCON), on Soyinka

In celebration of the Nobel Laureate, the monarch on behalf of all sons and daughters of the kingdom, at home and world over, announced that henceforth, July 13th, shall be celebrated as Wole Soyinka Day.

Oba Gbadebo, made the call and the announcement, during a Royal Press Conference and Lunch, organised
to highlight two-day event for the forthcoming 90th birthday of the Nobel Laureate, coming up on 12th and 13th July, 2024.

The 90th birthday celebration has as its theme ” Defiance and Creativity -A Celebration of Soyinka’s Artistic Ingenuity and Impact on Nigeria, Africa and The Entire World.”

He said the people of Egbaland, decided to organise a special 90th birthday celebration, for a Nobel Prize winner in Literature and international playwright, because of his global recognition and giant strides in the field of Literature.

Alake noted that the literary icon who is an indigene of Ake in Egbaland, deserves to be celebrated elaborately during his forthcoming 90th birthday by his kinsmen, for bringing international honour to Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria, as the first African to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

The monarch, said Soyinka had brought much honour to Nigeria, through his literary works, hence, he should be celebrated not only by the Egba people but Nigeria as a nation.

Highlighting events lined up for the celebration, Alake said the events include arts exhibition by pupils of Saint Peters Primary School, Ake, and Abeokuta Grammar School, primary and secondary school attended by Soyinka respectively; exhibitions by the Ogun State chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artistes; book exhibitions by Spectrum Publishing Company; documentaries; poetry recitals; cultural performances and hunting expedition by hunters in Egbaland.

Also speaking, the Convener of the Committee on Wole Soyinka at 90, Paul Segun Bankole, submitted that Soyinka deserves to be celebrated as he joins the nonagenarian club.

Recalling how he met Soyinka in 1964 in Ibadan as a young boy, Bankole disclosed that his literary journey started as a result of his encounter with him, noting that declaration of July 13th as Wole Soyinka Day in Egbaland by the Alake is in line with the declaration of November 1st as Wole Soyinka Day in New Orleans, USA.

The monarch said, “We are using this medium to call on Federal Government to declare July 13th every year as Wole Soyinka Day.

“If a day, November 1 can be set aside as Wole Soyinka Day in New Orleans, USA, there is nothing wrong if July 13th is set aside as Wole Soyinka Day in Nigeria, he deserves it.”