Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has disclosed that the United States has revoked his non-immigrant visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.
Soyinka shared the news during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at an event titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface!” held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Freedom Park. He read aloud a letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025, which notified him of the revocation under U.S. Department of State regulations (22 CFR 41.122).
The letter stated: “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked… Additional information became available after the visa below was issued.” It specified Soyinka’s details, including his B1/B2 visa issued on April 2, 2024, in Lagos, for business and tourism purposes.
The 91-year-old playwright and activist expressed surprise and confusion over the decision, insisting he has no criminal record or history of violating U.S. laws. “I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanor to qualify for the revocation,” he said. He recounted past positive experiences in the U.S., including teaching at Harvard and Cornell, but noted a shift in relations under the Trump administration.
Soyinka linked the revocation to his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump, recalling his 2016 protest where he publicly tore up his U.S. Green Card shortly after Trump’s election victory, vowing not to live in the country under his leadership. This action drew global attention and underscored Soyinka’s commitment to challenging racism, injustice, and poor governance worldwide.
The revocation follows Soyinka’s refusal to attend a visa re-interview requested by the U.S. Consulate in September 2025. A subsequent letter in October asked him to surrender his passport for physical cancellation, which he declined, stating, “If they wish to cancel it, that is their business. I will not go there to help them do it.”
Despite the ban, Soyinka harbors no resentment and plans to remain open to Americans. “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,” he remarked. “I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me.”
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has not publicly commented on the specific case, though it recently tightened visa policies for Nigerians, limiting non-immigrant visas to single-entry, three-month permits. This incident aligns with broader Trump administration efforts to intensify immigration controls, including revocations targeting outspoken critics.
Soyinka’s revelation has sparked debate about free speech and political retribution, with many viewing it as retaliation for his long-standing activism.
