The Federal Government has renamed the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, in a ceremony attended by President Bola Tinubu, traditional rulers, and leading figures in Nigeria’s arts and culture sector.
The event, which drew artists, playwrights, directors, poets, and cultural icons, marked the official unveiling of the “Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Culture.” Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, described the honour as a recognition of Soyinka’s global contributions to literature, theatre, and human rights.
Responding to the recognition, Soyinka admitted he accepted the honour with “mixed feelings,” recalling his criticism of past leaders who renamed monuments and institutions after themselves. He, however, noted that the banking consortium and government behind the initiative convinced him that the theatre owed him a debt, given his long-standing association with the building.
“I am notorious for criticising appropriations of public monuments by past leaders. Having to stand up now and see my name here didn’t sit well with me initially,” Soyinka said. “But when I reflected on the history of theatre in this country and the contributions of my predecessors, I decided someone has to carry the can.”
He also shared personal experiences linked to the theatre, including near-electrocution incidents involving his actors due to the facility’s past state of disrepair. “This building owes me. I nearly lost two performers here,” he remarked.
The playwright further spoke about the theatre’s origins, recalling its design during the military era and its role in hosting FESTAC 77. He noted that despite its troubled past, the theatre’s revival represents a new opportunity to centre African drama at home rather than abroad.
Soyinka humorously reflected on his dramatic life, including an incident of being kidnapped at 91 on his way to a theatre festival. “I discovered that I am not really real, but a dramatic creation. If the theatre ever runs out of material, all they need is to look at that name and create theatre around it,” he joked.
He thanked the banking consortium and President Tinubu, whom he described as a “great conspirator,” for ambushing him with the honour.
With the renaming, the government and cultural stakeholders expressed hope that the Wole Soyinka Centre will serve as a revitalised hub for African arts, preventing the need to look overseas for world-class performances.
