Celebrating 40 Years of Soyinka's Nobel Prize in a Unique Exhibition

Curator of Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka, Oludamola Adebowale, has shared plans for the eighth edition of the project. This edition will celebrate 40 years since the Nobel laureate won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Themed Ake to Stockholm, the 2026 edition will include an exhibition of archives, a documentary film, a comic book, and artistic displays. These will explore Soyinka’s literary path and the importance of his milestone achievement.

This event is part of the 27th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA). The main exhibition will take place from November 16 to 29 at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos.

During a press conference, Mr Adebowale explained that the project goes beyond just celebrating Soyinka’s Nobel Prize. It will also look into the experiences, influences, and challenges that shaped his journey to global fame.

In 1986, Soyinka became the first African writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This moment was significant for African literature worldwide.

Mr Adebowale noted that the theme follows the journey from Ake, Abeokuta, where Soyinka grew up, to Stockholm, Sweden, where he received the award.

He said the project aims to keep historical materials and ideas about Soyinka’s life and work, making them easy to access for people of all ages.

Launched in 2019, Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka is an annual effort that looks at the writer’s life, contributions, and legacy through research, exhibitions, and public events.

The exhibition at Freedom Park will showcase archival photos, historical documents, and visual stories that highlight Soyinka’s literary path and the events leading to his Nobel Prize.

The organizers believe the exhibition will encourage visitors to think about the links between literature, history, and cultural memory. It will also focus on how Soyinka’s ideas about freedom, justice, political duty, and human dignity still matter today.

A short documentary film will take a closer look at the Nobel milestone using archival materials and recorded interviews.

The program will also include a comic book aimed at younger audiences. This book will present Soyinka’s life and literary journey in a way that encourages engagement with Nigeria’s literary history.

Mr Adebowale mentioned that these different storytelling styles aim to make history relatable to younger generations while keeping it alive.

Another important part of the program is an international panel discussion titled From Nobel to Posterity: Archiving Wole Soyinka’s Literary Legacy.

This discussion will be hosted by the Section on Literary Archives of the International Council on Archives. It will bring together archivists and scholars to explore how to preserve and share Soyinka’s literary records for future research.

The session will also discuss how literary archives influence how future generations see writers and their role in world literature.

The contemporary art program will include The Rebel Series (WS in 1986) at Adegbola Gallery. This exhibition, featuring artist Adewale Kolawole John and curated by Adebowale, will provide an artistic view of Soyinka and the time around his Nobel Prize.

Before the event, Mr Adebowale said the project aims to keep the stories and ideas that explain Soyinka’s importance in history.

He added that working with LABAF and CORA will help reach a larger audience and extend discussions about the writer’s legacy.

This eighth edition comes as Nigeria’s literary community celebrates four decades since Mr Soyinka won the Nobel Prize, bringing renewed focus to the experiences and achievements that shaped African literature.