In commemoration of Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday, Abiola Irele, renowned doyen of African Literature will speak to the theme ‘Wole Soyinka and the Moral Burden of Literature’ at the 6th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series which holds on Sunday 13 July, 2014 by 12.30pm, at the Bolaji Akinyemi Hall of theNigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.
Abiola Irele is a leading African Literature Scholar, the Provost of the College of Humanities at the Kwara State University and a visiting Professor at Harvard University. He will be joined by Ropo Sekoni – WSCIJ Board Chair and a Professor of English and Mass Communication, Odia Ofeimun – poet, playwright and social critic, Dan Izevbaye – Provost College of Humanities of the Bowen University and Jeffrey Hawkins – US Consul-General in Nigeria to discuss the theme.
The writer, Molara Wood will moderate the event which will be spiced up by the University of Ibadan Theatre Arts Troupe presentation of Wole Soyinka’s pieces – ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’ and No! He said.
The theme is apt in view of current realities in Nigeria. The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) hopes to bring attention to the many ways literature mirrors and impacts on the society while chronicling and drawing lessons from the life and works of Professor Wole Soyinka, the sage who turns 80 on the day.
The Lecture series was designed to periodically examine varying topical issues that have a reverberating effect on the perceived performance of the media on the health of our country, Nigeria, and its democracy. It was first held in 2008.
The tradition of holding the event on July 13, which this year, is Professor Soyinka’s 80th birthday, started in 2009 in our bid to honour this illustrious Nigerian even as we draw attention to critical national issues.
Admittance to the event is open to members of the public.