By Our Correspondent
Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States government has revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country. The celebrated playwright and human rights activist disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at Kongis Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
Speaking to journalists, the 90-year-old literary icon said he was shocked and confused by the decision, adding that he had not engaged in any act that could have warranted such a measure.
He said he received a letter from the US Consulate General in Lagos informing him that his visa had been revoked. Soyinka explained that he was unaware of any offense or event that could justify such an action.
According to reports, the letter dated October 23, 2025, stated that the decision was made because additional information became available after the visa was issued. However, no specific details were provided by US authorities regarding the nature of that information.
Soyinka clarified that the revoked visa was a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa, commonly issued for business and tourism purposes. He added that the Consulate had requested the physical submission of his passport for cancellation.
Despite the unexpected development, the Nobel Laureate maintained a calm and philosophical stance, insisting that he had no intention of reapplying for a US visa. He said that at his stage in life, he did not think it was necessary, as he had more pressing engagements within Africa.
The US Embassy in Lagos has not issued any public statement explaining the reason behind the revocation.
Soyinka, who in 1986 became the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, has long been an outspoken critic of authoritarianism and injustice, both at home and abroad. Some observers speculate that his past criticism of former US President Donald Trump, whom he once compared to a dictator, may have contributed to the action, though this remains unconfirmed.
In 2016, shortly after Trumps election victory, Soyinka symbolically destroyed his US green card, vowing to cut ties with the country as a form of protest.
The development has sparked discussion among academics, civil rights advocates, and members of the international community, many of whom view the decision as unusual and diplomatically sensitive given Soyinkas global stature.
For now, the reasons behind the visa revocation remain unclear, leaving many to question the transparency of such decisions, especially when they concern one of Africas most respected literary figures.
