Nigerian Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka has had his United States visa revoked under new policy changes by the Trump administration. The move has drawn sharp attention across literary and diplomatic circles, coming amid a wave of U.S. visa reviews targeting foreign nationals considered “non-essential” under tightened screening procedures.
The 89-year-old playwright and activist confirmed that he was informed of the visa withdrawal by U.S. officials after decades of unrestricted travel to lecture, teach, and attend conferences in American institutions. The revocation is said to have taken effect earlier this month.
Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, has long maintained close ties with universities in the United States and has been an outspoken critic of authoritarian governments around the world. His writings and public statements have frequently tackled corruption, dictatorship, and social inequality in Africa.
Nigerian cultural organisations and advocacy groups described the development as disappointing, urging U.S. authorities to reconsider. The Nigerian government has not issued an official response, but diplomatic sources confirmed that efforts were underway to seek clarification from Washington.
Soyinka himself has not commented publicly on the motive behind the revocation, though he reportedly plans to continue his academic and literary engagements in Europe and Africa.
The decision marks the first time in decades that the scholar’s U.S. travel access has been restricted, raising concerns about the broader implications for international cultural exchange and intellectual freedom.
