On Wednesday, Nobel Prize-winning scholar Professor Wole Soyinka announced his refusal to attend a visa re-interview scheduled by the United States Consulate in Nigeria for Thursday, September 11.
Initially, Soyinka suspected the invitation was a scam.
In an exclusive conversation with TheNEWS/PMNEWS, the esteemed author shared his thoughts on the recent directive from the U.S. Consulate, which requested Nigerians holding B1/B2 visas to appear for a re-interview.
Among the many Nigerians summoned, Soyinka admitted that at first, he dismissed the letter as fraudulent, believing it to be a ploy by con artists targeting hopeful visa applicants.
He explained, “To start, I want to clarify that this isn’t a personal matter. I have no idea how this information became public. When I received the letter, my immediate reaction was disbelief. I assumed it was a scam, typical of those who exploit people desperate for visas by promising guaranteed approvals for a fee. I thought my name was randomly selected from a list of invitees.”
“At first, I considered it an advance-fee fraud because I had never encountered such correspondence from any embassy before. I even wondered if artificial intelligence was generating generic letters indiscriminately.”
“It felt unusual. Once I accepted the letter’s authenticity, I reflected on my cordial relationships with various ambassadors, Consul-Generals, and Cultural Attachés over the years.”
The distinguished playwright and poet emphasized that he has more pressing priorities than pursuing visas for destinations he neither desires to visit nor feels welcomed in, stating, “Attending this interview is completely off the table for me.”
He also found the choice of September 11 for the interview date to be questionable, given its profound significance to the United States.
Soyinka expressed a degree of superstition, not only regarding the U.S. but globally, about the symbolism of that date. He insisted it should be observed as a solemn day of national mourning and reflection, rather than used for administrative procedures like visa re-interviews.
“That day should be reserved for contemplation and respect, not for summoning individuals to risk losing their visas. Ideally, offices should close on September 11,” he remarked.
“If the U.S. government does not shut down on that day, I will personally disengage from any dealings with them. I am quite superstitious and will avoid being anywhere near the consulate on 9/11. I plan to be traveling elsewhere,” Soyinka added.
He further elaborated that embassy invitations represent governmental requests, but the nature of the government in question matters greatly. He described the current U.S. administration as akin to a “white Idi Amin.”
Expressing caution about his safety, Soyinka said, “When you consider the behavior and mindset of the current U.S. president, you realize there are tyrants of various hues. If someone like Idi Amin invited me to his embassy, I would hesitate, uncertain of what awaits beyond the door.”
“Therefore, I must decline this invitation, as the Americans say, ‘take a rain check.’ Under no circumstances will I attend on September 11. Perhaps small acts like this, when multiplied, might prompt the American people to engage in serious self-examination about their global standing during these turbulent times.”
He concluded that the United States might be in need of a metaphorical exorcism. “There is much more to discuss later. We could convene writers, philosophers, and psychologists to analyze what is happening in America. Maybe what the country requires is a cleansing of sorts. But for now, I remain firm-I will not be there on 9/11,” Soyinka affirmed.
Despite his refusal, Soyinka welcomed the visa re-interview notice as an opportunity to scrutinize the complex dynamics between travelers and host nations. He highlighted the distressing reality for those who have established lives abroad, only to be abruptly barred from returning.
“People like me, who live nomadically, are somewhat insulated. But for those who have built homes and livelihoods elsewhere, being told they cannot resume their lives is devastating, inhumane, and deeply dehumanizing,” he concluded.
