Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has publicly announced that the United States has revoked his visa, effectively banning him from entering the country. During a press conference, the esteemed author stated that he received a request from the US consulate to present his passport for the cancellation of his visa due to unspecified 'new information.'
Soyinka, 91, humorously characterized the consulate's request as a rather curious love letter from an embassy, urging organizations wishing to invite him to reconsider their plans, stating, don’t waste your time. The US embassy in Nigeria has refrained from commenting on individual cases.
Previously, Soyinka had held permanent residency in the US, which he renounced during the Trump administration; he famously tore up his green card in protest after Trump’s election in 2016. On Tuesday, he confirmed he no longer possesses his green card, joking that it had fallen between the fingers of a pair of scissors.
The acclaimed writer has enjoyed regular teaching positions in US universities for over three decades. On addressing his current situation, Soyinka remarked, I have no visa. I am banned, while linking his visa troubles to his vocal criticism of the Trump administration. He controversially compared Trump to the dictator Idi Amin, stating, I thought I was paying him a compliment. Soyinka's pointed remarks have led to increased scrutiny of his right to freely engage in international dialogue.
In the wake of Soyinka's situation, the US State Department has implemented tightened non-immigrant visa policies affecting Nigerians and citizens from other African nations, further complicating travel and immigration for many who seek to bridge cultures through shared knowledge and engagement.
