Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has stated he will not seek to have his United States visa reinstated after it was suddenly revoked, declaring he has “nothing to look for” in the country at his age.
The renowned Nigerian writer and playwright revealed the revocation during a media gathering titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface” at the Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Lagos. He said he called the parley to inform associates in the US that he had effectively been “banned.”
Soyinka explained that he received a formal notice from the US Consulate in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025, which stated that his non-immigrant B1/B2 visa had been cancelled. The visa, originally issued on April 2, 2024, was revoked under US Department of State regulations, citing that “additional information became available after the visa was issued.”
The consulate’s letter requested that Soyinka bring his passport to the embassy “for physical cancellation” of the visa, a request the 91-year-old author found humorous. “If you have plans to travel to the United States, you must apply again to re-establish your qualifications for a new non-immigrant visa,” the letter from the NIV Section of the Consulate added.
Soyinka expressed bewilderment at the decision, prompting him to reflect on his past conduct. “I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he asked journalists.
The visa cancellation was preceded by an invitation from the US embassy for a visa re-interview scheduled for September 11, 2025—a date Soyinka, who described himself as “superstitious,” found unsettling due to its historical significance. “I didn’t like the date. Everybody knows what happened on that date, 9/11, many years ago, so it is rather unfortunate that they picked that date. So I said, ‘Sorry, I’m superstitious; I’m not coming on that day,’” he recounted. He clarified that beyond the date, he was ultimately “not interested” in attending the interview.
Following his refusal, he received a call from the US Ambassador in Lagos, who offered him a special appointment. “We spoke, and I said, ‘Shall I be equally frank with you? I’m not interested,’” Soyinka said.
When asked if he would be willing to travel to the United States in the future, Soyinka responded affirmatively but only under specific conditions, ruling out any personal initiative to restore his visa. “How old am I now? What am I looking for anywhere? Like I said, I have nothing against the American citizens. Human beings live there — friends, families, and colleagues. There are a lot of art productions going on there, and there are philosophers. There are remarkable beings in that place,” he stated.
He concluded with a firm and philosophical stance on the matter: “So, if circumstances change, yes (I will), and (if) I were invited. But I won’t make the effort myself. I won’t take the initiative myself because there is nothing I’m looking for there. I’ve been responsible for the creation of some institutions in that place. I’ve given as much as I’ve taken from that place. They owe me nothing, and I owe them nothing.”
Despite the diplomatic friction, Soyinka was careful to distinguish between the actions of the US government and its people, assuring that his “Autonomous Republic of Ijegba” in Abeokuta would always welcome American friends.
The development came amidst a recent tightening of US visa policies for Nigerian citizens, including the issuance of single-entry visas with shorter validity and new requirements for social media disclosure.
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