Book on Wole Soyinka launched in Accra
President John Dramani Mahama has eulogised Professor Wole Soyinka for his extraordinary industry and boldness that have contributed to make tremendous impact on the lives of many Africans.
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He said Prof. Soyinka's literary works and his fearlessness in telling the truth no matter the consequences have stood him out as a distinguished African who must be celebrated while alive.
President Mahama said this at the launch of a book in Accra last Tuesday night to mark the 80th birthday of Prof. Soyinka.
Titled, "Crucible of the Ages: Essays in Honour of Wole Soyinka at 80," the book is authored by Ivor Agyeman-Duah and Ogochukwu Promise, with a foreword by Chief Emeka Anyaoku
The book, which has contributions from renowned scholars, writers, literary critics, and leaders from Africa and other parts of the world, reflects and assesses Soyinka's perspectives on power, politics, and the arts.
Soyinka, a distinguished poet, playwright, novelist, academic and actor, is the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
A motley of dignitaries from the academia, business, politics, as well as students attended the ceremony held at the State Banquet Hall.
President Mahama said as Africa made positive strides in development, she needed many industrious citizens cast in the mould of Prof. Soyinka to catapult the process further.
Kagame
Rwandan President, Mr Paul Kagame who was the guest speaker, said throughout his life, Wole Soyinka’s enduring contribution has been to call attention to the difficult work of liberating the mind.
"He has been an unapologetic exponent of the universality of African values. He will remain a beacon for African young people," Mr Kagame stressed.
He said Soyinka's works made positive contributions to the strides made by Rwanda in the post conflict era.
Soyinka
Prof. Soyinka, a respected African intellectual, known for his critical stance against sanguinary despots and bad governments especially in Africa, said in whatever he did or said, the central point was the interest of the people.
He was overwhelmed by the many good things said about him by Presidents Mahama and Kagame.
He stressed the need for African writers to pay attention to economics, saying even at his advanced stage in life, he must be able to show the economic underpinnings of the continent's development.
Boko Haram
While condemning Boko Haram terrorists for the atrocities meted to innocent Nigerians, he also took on his home government, the Nigerian government for doing little to stop the inhuman acts by the Islamist terrorist group.
He mentioned the abduction of the over 200 school girls more than two months ago and questioned suggestions that dialogue would resolve the issue.
He urged West African leaders to do more in uprooting the problem.
Prof. Soyinka saluted President Kagame for the transformation he had brought to Rwanda. "He did it with fundamental human values in mind and not vengeance," he noted.
He praised President Mahama for his vision for West Africa, and for writing a book, saying with good leaders there was hope to change the negativity about Africa.