Nobel Laureate and renowned author, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that his United States visa was permanently revoked by American authorities. The 91-year-old writer believes the decision may be linked to his recent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Visa Revocation Notice and Political Context
Speaking during a media briefing at Freedom Park in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka said he received a letter from the U.S. Consulate notifying him that his visa had been cancelled. The letter cited “additional information became available after the visa was issued” as the reason for revocation, but it offered no further explanation.
According to the Nobel Prize-winning author, the consulate asked him to visit their office so his visa could be officially stamped as “cancelled permanently.” However, Soyinka said he declined the invitation. “If they wish to cancel it, that is their business,” he said. “I will not go there to help them do it.”
Soyinka’s Stand and Past U.S. Ties
Soyinka explained that he used a B1/B2 visa after destroying his American green card in 2017. He tore it in protest of Trump’s first inauguration, describing it as a stand against divisive and discriminatory leadership. “It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” Soyinka said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”
The literary icon suggested his visa troubles could stem from his recent remarks comparing Trump to Uganda’s former dictator, Idi Amin. “I called him the white version of Idi Amin,” he said, jokingly referring to the U.S. notice as a “love letter.”
The U.S. Consulate in Lagos referred all questions to the State Department in Washington, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite the revocation, Wole Soyinka said he bears no grudge and will not reciprocate the action. “I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,” he said.
No Criminal Record, But Wider Immigration Concern
He also recalled two minor run-ins with U.S. authorities in the past. One occurred when he forgot to declare some spicy chilli peppers at an airport, earning him a $25 fine. “The officials were just doing their job,” he said, laughing. “It was a harmless mistake.”
The second, he recounted, happened in the 1970s at Chicago Airport when he challenged an immigration officer over a racist comment. The situation was defused after the intervention of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who later became Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Reflecting on both incidents, Soyinka insisted they were misunderstandings, not criminal acts. “I do not think those two incidents are enough to classify me as having a criminal record in the United States,” he said.
Soyinka added that his relationship with the U.S. had been cordial for many years until the political atmosphere shifted under Trump’s administration. He urged people to speak out against prejudice and injustice everywhere. “Silence in the face of prejudice,” he said, “is as dangerous as the act itself.”
Wole Soyinka’s visa revocation underscores growing concerns about U.S. immigration policies and freedom of expression. The Nobel Laureate’s defiant stance highlights his lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity—a principle he continues to uphold at home and abroad.
