It has been clear to me from a very young age, and I believe to all my siblings, that our father, Wole Soyinka, was going to have to be shared with very many people, from many different countries. This situation worsened significantly after he won the Nobel Prize and the number of ‘claimants’ shot up even further. This meant that we would necessarily have even less of him, but then, he is such a larger-than-life character that, I believe over time, we still got a good deal.
After all, when we were with Dad, we were with Kongi, Prof., our WS, Maren, Wole, Son of Essay and Wild Christian. We were with the renowned playwright, political activist, poet, rebel, satirist, humorist, musician, academic, intellectual, humanitarian, philosopher, wine lover, hunter, art collector, teacher, parent and ― as General Gowon once described him when justifying his incarceration ― troublemaker.
That, however posed a problem. For, sometimes, during times I have spent with him in private, I would catch glimpses of a different person than the one I thought I was sharing the moment with. Perhaps in conversation, when describing a particular situation, he would conjure a word or phrase or metaphor that would startle you with its aptness, descriptive efficacy or lyrical quality. His resolute individuality would manifest itself in unexpected ways, like the choice of a present ― totally impractical but the result of a peculiar far-sighted logic. Or, sharing a joke, the conversation might turn serious and I would suddenly sense the passion that motivated his activism, his outspokenness,
These days however, I stay closer; not to get into the photos being taken, or to grab my share of the limelight, but because now he needs more protection: he gets buffeted, shaken up, dazzled and deafened. People sometimes forget, because his voice is deep, his intellect still nimble and his charisma seems to wax ever stronger, that being eighty is a big number. Though he keeps trying to give of himself, now, it takes so much more out of him.
That particular transition reminds me of the theme of his 80th birthday celebration which could easily have been rephrased as “Literature and the Moral Burden of Wole Soyinka.” For it is a burden that weighs heavy on the psyche. At any time, the trivial, the banal can spark a high voltage arc to the bigger Nigerian picture. The conscience of a nation such as ours can never fully be at rest.
When with him in public, he is often surrounded by a scrummage of admirers trying to get close. I used to stand back and observe closely their expressions: expressions of pure admiration, of glee at being in the same space as an icon, of disbelief that they were close enough to touch a hero, ecstatic at getting a photograph that would be treasured for life. I would keep out of the way, not wanting to be selfish, after all, we get plenty of time with him compared to the fleeting moments many have waited a lifetime for.
These days however, I stay closer; not to get into the photos being taken, or to grab my share of the limelight, but because now he needs more protection: he gets buffeted, shaken up, dazzled and deafened. People sometimes forget, because his voice is deep, his intellect still nimble and his charisma seems to wax ever stronger, that being eighty is a big number. Though he keeps trying to give of himself, now, it takes so much more out of him.
To thank everybody for their expressions of love and admiration for Wole Soyinka would be somewhat out of place, because, as I have said, he belongs to everyone. So I will just say, on behalf of the family, that we rejoice with you all; we rejoice that WS has made more than four score years and we share your hope that we can all continue to enjoy him for many years to come.
I have never taken for granted the esteem in which he is held, and so at this milestone of his life – as I consider the hundreds of events, tributes, retrospectives, reviews, productions, blogs, online posts, adverts, greetings and congratulations that are marking it – I am at once amazed at the sheer variety and scope of his achievements and grateful and proud that I am family.
I know my siblings all keenly feel the privilege of being a Soyinka; I know our children do too. To thank everybody for their expressions of love and admiration for Wole Soyinka would be somewhat out of place, because, as I have said, he belongs to everyone. So I will just say, on behalf of the family, that we rejoice with you all; we rejoice that WS has made more than four score years and we share your hope that we can all continue to enjoy him for many years to come.
Olaokun Soyinka is the first son of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
This piece was initially written for and delivered during Professor Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2014.
