Soyinka Slams Nigerian Leaders: “Too Eager To Step Into Shoes Of Colonial Masters

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has criticised Nigerian leaders for being too quick to assume the role of colonial rulers after the country gained independence in 1960.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at “A Conversation with the Nobel Laureate” during the 100th anniversary celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos, Soyinka said that although Nigerians were initially thrilled about gaining independence, many government officials who took power soon behaved like a new set of colonial masters.

Reflecting on the era that inspired his acclaimed play A Dance of the Forests, which addressed the early years of independence, the 91‑year‑old playwright said the excitement of liberation was overshadowed by the way some leaders conducted themselves and related to ordinary people.

“In those days, we were full of hope and saw independence as a chance to prove ourselves,” Soyinka told members of the club, students and guests. “But we were also shocked by how some of those we expected to lead us with integrity instead slipped into the familiar shoes of our former colonisers.”

He explained that A Dance of the Forests was intended as a warning — a reminder not to romanticise independence without confronting the deeper responsibilities of self‑rule. Soyinka said if he were to rewrite the play today, the message would be even sharper, stressing that leaders must not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Soyinka also addressed global issues, warning against the spread of tyranny and foreign interference in the name of “rescue missions,” and urging people — especially young generations — to use modern tools like technology and communication to organise, hold leaders accountable and shape their own futures.