This weekend, African Voices Playmakers, the 30-minute magazine program on CNN International, supported by telecom giant Globacom, will feature renowned playwright, dramatist, and poet, Professor Wole Soyinka. The special edition highlights the life and career of the iconic Nigerian Nobel Laureate as he marks his 90th birthday.
Hosted by Larry Madowo, the episode promises an engaging journey into the mind of the literary legend, where Soyinka will share insights into the beliefs, principles, and experiences that have shaped his remarkable career. Known for his poetic style and deep cultural reflections, Soyinka will also discuss the activism that underpins much of his work, particularly his political imprisonment in Nigeria, which served as the inspiration for a recent film.
Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka, born on July 13, 1934, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 for his unique blend of poetic expression and profound cultural awareness in exploring the human condition. He began his literary journey as a student at University College, Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan), and later at the University of Leeds in the UK.
In addition to his Nobel Prize, Soyinka has received numerous accolades, including the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature (1990), the Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award (2009), the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Lifetime Achievement (2012), and the Europe Theatre Prize’s Special Prize (2017).
African Voices Playmakers will air on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on DSTV Channel 401, with repeats on the same day at noon, Sunday at 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Monday at 4:00 a.m. The episode will also be rebroadcast next Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and Sunday at 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
