Soyinka accepts renaming of name national theatre after him ‘with mixed feelings’
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has said he accepted the renaming of the National Theatre in Lagos after him with mixed emotions, despite his longstanding opposition to the appropriation of public monuments.
The theatre, located in Iganmu, Lagos, was renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts by President Bola Tinubu and reopened after refurbishment.
Speaking at the re-dedication ceremony, Soyinka noted his discomfort with the honour, recalling his history of criticizing the practice of naming public buildings and roads after individuals.
“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings,” he said. “I’ve often condemned personal appropriations of public monuments. It just didn’t sit well with me to see my name placed here as another appropriator.”
The playwright, however, acknowledged that he ultimately resolved to accept the recognition, citing the contributions of Nigerian theatre pioneers such as Hubert Ogunde and Adam Fiberesima. “Somebody has to carry the can,” he said.
Soyinka also reflected on his nostalgic connection to the National Theatre, recalling its construction during the military era and its prominence during FESTAC ’77. He lamented the building’s decline over the years, at one point describing it as “irredeemable” and “like a slum.”
Despite his reservations, Soyinka expressed appreciation for the theatre’s restoration and its renewed role as a hub for culture and the arts.
