By Adeola Ogunrinde
Akin Bello has won the 5th edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature with his play, ‘The Egbon of Lagos,’ taking home the prize money of $20,000.
The event which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island on July 5 had Soyinka in attendance. The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Soyinka, in whose honour the prize was instituted, while commending the efforts of the writers in the contest, condemned the action of some military men who allegedly assaulted civilians and burnt down six BRT buses in Lagos.
He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to punish the perpetrators of the mayhem in Lagos without fear or favour. He said while it is true that soldiers stake their lives in protection of the citizenry, they should also remember that they are funded by taxes paid by civilian
Soyinka said, “The life of one Nigerian is not more important than another”, citing the example of thousands of Nigerians that had been killed in the flashpoints in Northern Nigeria.
Born in Lagos in 1950, he was educated at Oyo, Ghana and the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, where he graduated with a second upper in Political Science in June, 1975. He has had an interesting career in Business Management culminating as Consultant in Training and Corporate affairs. He currently lives in Ibadan and devotes most of his time to reading and writing.
He was until November. 17, 2012, Chairman, Oyo state Chapter, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) – a position heheld for four years.
His Books
His most recent book is a collection of poems titled ‘Parallax Masks‘, published by Positive Press, Ibadan, in February, 2013. He has had three previous novels published. The books can be obtained for now in bookshops around Nigeria though strenuous efforts are currently being made to reach out to worldwide audiences through seeking a house for them in the UK.
His Life
In his free time, he plays draught and watches films. He also enjoys communing with nature by taking solitary walks in nearby forests and sight-seeing in rural areas. His favourite African writers are Chinua Achebe Elechi Amadi, Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Ayi Kwei Armah and Ben Okri. Achebe’s latest book, ‘There was a Country,’ is still thrilling him for many reasons not least of which is the unwinding of the mask behind the man.
Bello is passionate about the need for total emancipation of Africa and Africans. He is an incurable optimist concerning the rigmarole of the project called Nigeria and a keen observer of the shenanigans of African rulers.
