Wole Soyinka Nobel Prize anniversary to be celebrated with Lagos exhibition

An upcoming exhibition titled ‘Ake to Stockholm’ will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Wole Soyinka receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature. Scheduled for November 16 to 29, 2026, the project is part of the 27th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA).

Curated by Oludamola Adebowale, the initiative will feature an archival exhibition at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Freedom Park, Lagos. The program aims to explore Soyinka’s literary journey, intellectual influences, and the struggles that led to his historic achievement as the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. The commemoration will include a documentary film, an illustrated comic book, and various artistic presentations designed to make his legacy accessible to new generations.

Wole Soyinka is a renowned Nigerian playwright, poet, and novelist known for works such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ and ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’. His life and activism, including his experiences during the Nigerian civil war, serve as central themes in the upcoming retrospective.