Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has announced that his visa to the United States has been revoked.
He disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
According to the renowned playwright and poet, he received formal notification of the revocation in a letter from the US Consulate dated October 23, 2025.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time. I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka stated.
He expressed both surprise and confusion over the development, insisting that he was unaware of any offense that could have prompted such action. However, he suggested that the decision might be linked to his long-standing criticism of US President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
Soyinka, who once held permanent residency in the US, had famously torn up his green card in 2016 following Trump’s election victory—a symbolic act of protest. More recently, he declined an invitation from the US Consulate to attend a visa re-interview in September 2025, citing the date’s significance as the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
What you should know
Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, has been an outspoken advocate for democracy, justice, and human rights throughout his career.
His strained relationship with the US government dates back to his vocal criticism of Donald Trump’s leadership and policies. The revocation of his visa marks a new chapter in this tension, one that may affect his international engagements and upcoming academic commitments.
