On October 2nd, an online conversation was conducted by the Program of African Studies of Northwestern University between Professor Chris Abani and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.1 It was the resumption of a conversation between the two writers and scholars at the New York Public Library in November 2019. In response to a request from Prof. Abani, I agreed to prepare remarks on my “relationship to Soyinka and his work from any angle: personal, academic, or a mix of both.” The composition of this narrative involved more than I anticipated. Moreover, a technical problem prevented it from being posted prior to the event. Reflections on the conversation are followed by the initial essay.

Last modified

• 10/12/2020

Creator

• Richard Joseph

Contributors

• Woye Soyinka
• Chris Abani

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-qrns-j689

Keyword

• diaspora
• africa
• democracy
• black lives matter
• human dignity
• ethnicity

Date created

• 2020-10-08

Resource type

• Article

Rights statement

• In Copyright