Nigerian playwright and poet Professor Wole Soyinka’s United States of America visa has been revoked.
He made the disclosure today, Tuesday, October 28, 2025, speaking to journalists at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
“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,” the Nobel Laureate 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.”
According to Soyinka, he was informed he could not enter the United States via an official letter dated October 23, 2025, from the US Embassy.
He indicated he was unaware of the reasons for his ban, emphasising he had no criminal past, nor had he violated any US laws.
“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” the iconic writer said.
“I keep asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”
While it is not immediately clear if Soyinka had applied for a new visa, the US Embassy letter read, in part, “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.”
Soyinka did not indicate if he was going to challenge the decision.
