Nobel laureate and renowned playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, announced on Tuesday that the United States has revoked his visa, barring him from entering the country.
Speaking at a media briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka expressed surprise and confusion over the decision, stating that he was unaware of any wrongdoing that could have led to the revocation.
Soyinka revealed that the US Consulate in Lagos officially informed him of the revocation in a letter dated October 23, 2025.
The letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section, stated that his B1/B2 visa—used for business and tourism—was revoked under U.S. Department of State regulations.
Reading the letter aloud, Soyinka said: “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.”
The Nobel laureate described his initial disbelief, admitting he thought the letter was a scam or AI-generated fraud until its authenticity was confirmed.
“I even thought scammers had picked my name randomly, knowing there was a list of invitees,” he noted.
Despite verifying the letter, Soyinka said he remains puzzled, as he has no criminal record or history of misconduct that could justify the revocation.
“I’ve started looking back—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” he wondered aloud.
Soyinka also mentioned that in September 2025, he declined an invitation from the US Consulate for a visa re-interview, describing the request as unusual and unnecessary. His refusal and the subsequent revocation have left him questioning the motives behind the decision.
While the specific reason for the revocation remains unclear, Soyinka emphasized that the matter is not personal and reiterated his longstanding courteous relationships with US diplomats.
He called the development strange, particularly given his history of global advocacy for justice and human rights.