I discovered that I am not really real - Wole Soyinka

-SPECIAL REPORT-

“I Discovered That I Am Not Really Real” - Wole Soyinka’s Reflections at the National Theatre Renaming Ceremony

In a moment steeped in cultural resonance and personal introspection, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka stood before a distinguished audience at the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, to accept an honour that he once vocally opposed: the renaming of the iconic edifice in his name.

The event, attended by President Bola Tinubu, traditional rulers, artists, and cultural custodians, marked the rebirth of the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

Soyinka began his speech with a candid confession: “Let me begin by confessing, and I think you know this, that I accepted this honour with mixed feelings.” Known for his criticism of naming public monuments after individuals, Soyinka admitted that he had long opposed such appropriations, arguing that only a fraction of those honoured truly deserved it. “I am notorious for criticising many appropriations, public monuments by some of our past leaders which end up with naming everything after them,” he said. “Having been guilty of saying other people do not merit this kind of monumental dedication and then I have to stand up in public to watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator; it just didn’t sink very well on me”.

Yet, as he reflected on the history of Nigerian theatre and the contributions of pioneers like Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, and Adam Fiberesima, Soyinka found a compelling reason to accept the honour. “Somebody has to carry the can,” he declared, acknowledging that the recognition was not merely personal but symbolic of a broader cultural legacy. He also cited nostalgia as a motivating factor, recalling the theatre’s original construction during the military regime and its architectural quirks. “We called it the General’s hat because of the shape of the roof,” he reminisced, noting its Bulgarian inspiration and lack of African architectural intelligence.

Soyinka’s relationship with the building was not always celebratory. He recounted its degradation over the years, describing it as “irredeemable” and even suggesting that it be demolished. “I said I would advise you, get somebody secretly, plant a bomb, and blow it up. It was not just a desert, it was a slum,” he said, expressing his despair at its condition before the recent renovation.

The transformation of the theatre, funded by a consortium of bankers and supported by President Tinubu, led Soyinka to reconsider his stance. “These bankers I mentioned earlier have got together to make me eat my words. And if eating one’s words produces a morsel like this, then it is a very tasty set of words,” he quipped, embracing the irony with grace.

President Tinubu, in his remarks, emphasized that the decision to rename the theatre was personal and devoid of political motives. “No conspiracy anywhere. I did it,” he said. “You are a gem and talent. You are one of the greatest assets of the world, the continent and the country Nigeria. So, it couldn’t have been anything else. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre. And I’m glad you are here to accept the honour”.

In a poetic twist, Soyinka’s declaration, “I discovered that I am not really real”, echoed the existential tension between public recognition and personal authenticity. It was a moment of self-awareness, a reflection on the paradox of being immortalized in stone while grappling with the ephemeral nature of identity. The phrase captured the surreal experience of watching one’s name etched into national memory, even as the man behind the name wrestled with the implications of legacy, ego, and cultural stewardship.

This ceremony was not merely about renaming a building; it was a reckoning with history, a tribute to artistic heritage, and a meditation on the meaning of honour.

In accepting the accolade, Soyinka did not abandon his principles, he expanded them, allowing space for contradiction, growth, and the enduring power of art to reshape reality.