Wole Soyinka hailed on renaming of National Theater after him
Femi OGUNLANA
The Noble Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka who recently clocked 90 years has been hailed as an illustrious cultural icon who occupies a position of honour in the Hall of Fame of Theater.
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Prince Fatai Adiyeloja, a theater practitioner, made this submission in a statement he made available to ogbomosoinsightonline.com, adding that the renaming of the National Theater after Prof Soyinka is worth it.
“It is with great joy that we the thespians plying our trade in our dear country and beyond receive the news of the naming of the National Theatre after Kongi the Pathfinder.
“Kongi stands tall in the pantheon of deities of the theater who worked tirelessly to bequeath the highest standard of theatrical tradition both in theory and practice. He exemplifies and promotes our rich cultural heritage in if not all of his writings.”
Adiyeloja who retired as Assistant Director of News and Current Affairs Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) further eulogizing the social crusader stressed, “How can we forget the pioneering efforts of this Pathfinder, who with Rockefeller Foundation grant combed major states and cities unearthing the diverse cultures of our motherland.
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“The 1960 mask which served as the training ground for actors, playwrights, costumiers, stage managers, producers, choreographers, percussionists was the brainchild of this complete man of the theater. A consummate actor, guitarist, cinematographer, producer, director and irresistible humorist.
“He is like the resourceful benefactor, the Fuji creator Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister likened to a man with a bundle of cloth “alaso igan repete” from which varieties of styles, trousers, top wears and flowing agbada were beautifully made.
“That he is still found relevant in lecture circuits all over the world at this old age when many of his contemporaries are least reckoned with attest to his versatility and fecundity. Name any great citadel of the theater across the globe that has not benefitted from the creative ingenuity of this theater idol from Europe through America to the Middle East. Yet, he remains his usual down -to – earth personage despite his larger than life achievements. Drama as we know is just one aspect of the literature for which he emerged Africa’s first Nobelist.
“Soyinka is undoubtedly a role model of sort, the pride of Africa and world -class citizen.”
Adiyeloja who enjoys close affinity with Soyinka recalls how a French Ambassador while conferring the highest French honour on Soyinka was enchanted by the larger than life image of the man famously called “Kongi.”
Adiyeloja said, “A French ambassador in the early 90s who had the rather herculean task of decorating him with the highest honor ever bestowed on French nationals remarked, “Who am I in my hesitant English to address Wole Soyinka, the master of the language.
“Whom am I talking about, the poet, the essayist, the pamphleteer, the satirist, wine connoisseur, the culture icon, former chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission and Brave Hunter ..
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“Why don’t I just hand over to him his insignia of office and let him do the talking.”
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Adiyeloja who contested the Ooni of Ife throne last time also remarked, “This prophet is not one without honour in his fatherland, the tumultuous crowd that trooped out to welcome him home from Abacha imposed exile speaks volumes of his general acceptability.
“‘I am an orphan, I have adopted you as my father’ one of the rapporteurs at Kongi at 90 symposium held at Unilag, herself a Prof said conclusively in an emotion ladden voice, the eminent scholar Ivvbiere, not sure I got the spelling right is of Igbo extraction.
“Long live Kongi the inimitable wordsmith and polyglot.”
