African I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y - Nine Seasons of Wole Soyinka

In its 15th year, the annual WSICE essay competition has garnered over 10,000 essays written by students, mostly the Senior Secondary Students (SSS) cadre in the 12-17 age range. It has also conferred over 90 prizes on winners in at least 23 states of Nigeria and 30 winners from five linguistic zones worldwide. 

The 2024 edition, marking the 90th birthday anniversary of the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka—whose name and iconic global status inspired it—is expected to receive a greater volume of essays than in previous years. 

As in previous editions, the laureate is expected to formally receive the ninety (90) winners, engage with them directly, and live in his Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, A.R.I Residence in the Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, in July. 

Crafted on the theme, NINE Season of KONGI, and to be hosted by the famous The Africa Centre, this is an international event rooted in the concept of charity-begins-at-home; the event will feature a multi-podal programme content, including WS: A LIFE IN FULL, an exhibition of portraits of the laureate from childhood through adulthood, a collection of drawings and paintings inspired by the celebrant through the Vision of the Child project, which he superintended in his days as Festival Consultant to the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, LBHF, and display of a rare collection of the manuscripts of the famous Onitsha literature -- a passion project by the laureate. 

The highlight will be the London premiere of THE MAN DIED, the feature film inspired by his classic prison memoir of the same title. Featuring top bills in the Nigerian film industry, including Wale Ojo, Sam Dede, Nobert Young, Francis Onwochei, Christiana Osunniyi, and Hollywood actor Abraham Amkpa, and others, the film is directed by Awam Amkpa, Soyinka’s former student and professor of theatre, media and cultural Aesthetics at the New York University, Abu-Dabi, where he is currently Dean of Humanities and Deputy Provost. 

The event is in collaboration with reputable institutions in the UK, such as the London School of Economics and Bournemouth University.

The Vision of the Child initiative was conceived during the 2009 Caterina de’ Medici International Painting Award under the guidance of Professor Wole Soyinka, serving as the Head of the Jury in Italy. 

In May, VoTC will call for applications for the special edition Titled 'Good Governance and Democracy - One Thousand and One Faces of Corruption Part 2".

On June 13, 2024, as part of the 60-day Countdown to Wole Soyinka at 90, VoTC Alumni, alongside Caterina De’ Medici Florence's Past Winner, will convene for a live Painting and Poetry session to “Reimagining Michelangelo: the VoTC celebrates Wole Soyinka At 90 in Florence, Italy”at the historic Piazza del Duomo in Florence, where the project was first established in 2002, in honour of the esteemed Global Icon.

Titled "Legacy Unveiled: VoTC Returns to Florence to Honour Wole Soyinka at 90," the Road Show event will traverse Florence, Sienna, Greve in Chianti, and Panzano. 

D-Y-O-T: After the reception, over 1,000 youths will converge at the Ijegba Forestage, the WSICE theatre site in Soyinka’s backyard, to engage in a hybrid Do-Your-Own-Thing open-air creative expression. The event will be live televised and streamed via various social media platforms. 

Cultural Evening: This will be followed by an evening of Sight and sound designed for creative performances, including music, drama, dance, poetry and spoken words, a fashion parade, craft displays, and a film screening. 

Since its inception, the annual WSICE event has hosted an advocacy session in the form of a conference, seminar, symposium, or debate. This session always features eminent scholars and resource persons from across disciplines, ages, genders, and creeds. 

The 2024 edition, a milestone event, will be held in collaboration with the Nigeria Academy of Letters, NAL, and has been slated for July 11 at the prestigious Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka. It is guaranteed to be attended by top-notch resource persons from academia—professors and researchers as well as professionals in various disciplines of the arts.

A dinner reception for guests will follow the Advocacy Session. A key member of the diplomatic community will play host to distinguished guests in a rare show of solidarity to honour the first African Nobel laureate in recognition of his decades of advocacy for the good of our collective humanity.