Shockwaves Hit Literary World: US Revokes Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka's Visa

Published 6 months ago• 1 minute read

Pelumi Ilesanmi

Shockwaves Hit Literary World: US Revokes Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka's Visa

Nobel laureate and acclaimed playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has announced the permanent revocation of his B1/B2 non-immigrant visa by the United States government. He made this disclosure on a Tuesday during a media parley held at Freedom Park in Lagos, specifically at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery on Lagos Island, to inform those expecting him in the U.S. not to waste their time.

Soyinka revealed he received an official letter from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025, which served as notification that his visa was no longer valid for entry into the United States. The letter, he explained, cited U.S. Department of State regulations (22 CFR 41.122) and stated that the revocation occurred because “additional information became available” after the visa was initially issued. He also recounted that he initially dismissed the letter as a potential scam, believing it could be a form of