Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has revealed that his non-resident visa to enter the United States has been withdrawn, suggesting the decision may be linked to recent comments he made about former President Donald Trump. The 91-year-old Nigerian writer, who became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, explained that he had been informed the visa could only be reinstated if he reapplied, though he has little interest in doing so.
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Soyinka, who has previously held a US green card and taught at American universities, stressed that the issue was less about his personal travel plans and more about the principle of fair treatment. He argued that all individuals deserve dignity when dealing with immigration authorities, adding that his own green card had been symbolically destroyed in 2017 in protest at Trump’s inauguration. The notification he received cited “additional information” as the reason for the revocation, but offered no further detail.
The writer speculated that his outspoken criticism of Trump may have played a role, noting he had recently described the former US leader as a “white version of Idi Amin”, referencing the Ugandan dictator. Despite the official explanation remaining unclear, Soyinka remarked that the situation reflects a wider shift in US immigration practices, and emphasised that he did not hold consular staff personally responsible.
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Soyinka characterised the letter informing him of the decision as a “love letter” and said he would not pursue another visa. Declaring that he is now effectively barred from entering the United States, he remarked that anyone wishing to see him would have to visit him elsewhere.
