Nobel Laureate and world-renowned writer, Professor Wole Soyinka, says his United States visa has been revoked by the government under former President Donald Trump.
Soyinka made the revelation on Tuesday during a press briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, where he addressed journalists on the issue.
The 1986 Nobel Prize winner in Literature said he was surprised by the action and had no idea why the US government took such a decision.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time,” Soyinka said.
According to him, he received formal notification from the US Consulate in Nigeria informing him that his visa had been withdrawn. He added that the letter gave no specific reason for the decision.
“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” the Nobel Laureate said.
Soyinka described the action as unexpected and possibly politically motivated, saying it could amount to a witch-hunt.
“I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he stated.
The professor said he had begun reflecting on whether any of his previous comments or actions may have upset US authorities.
“I’ve started looking back — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he asked rhetorically.
Professor Wole Soyinka has had a long and close relationship with the United States. Over the decades, he has taught at several top American universities, including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and Emory. He has also participated in numerous international conferences and literary events in the country.
Soyinka, now in his late 80s, is regarded as one of Africa’s greatest writers and thinkers. His works — including The Man Died, A Dance of the Forests, and Death and the King’s Horseman — are studied in universities around the world.
The revocation of his visa is likely to affect several planned engagements in the US, where he has frequently delivered lectures and participated in academic discussions.
While Soyinka did not point fingers directly, some observers believe the visa action could be linked to his outspoken political stance.
The Nobel Laureate has often criticised governments both within and outside Nigeria. He has previously clashed with US authorities over issues such as racial injustice and immigration policies.
During Donald Trump’s presidency, Soyinka was vocal in criticising the administration’s travel bans and immigration measures. Shortly after Trump’s election in 2016, Soyinka publicly announced that he had torn up his US Green Card, saying he could not live in a country that, in his words, “elected a racist president.”
That action made headlines around the world and drew mixed reactions in Nigeria and abroad. Many believe it may have influenced the current decision to revoke his visa.
Soyinka said the revocation would not stop him from continuing his work or speaking his mind on global issues.
The development has sparked reactions in academic and literary circles, with some calling it a blow to intellectual freedom and cultural exchange.
As at press time, there has been no official comment from the US Embassy in Nigeria or the State Department regarding the reason for the visa cancellation.
Wole Soyinka remains a strong voice for democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression — values he has championed for over six decades. His supporters say the decision will not diminish his influence, even if it limits his travel to the United States.
