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Soyinka, Wole (Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka) 1934–

Soyinka, a Nigerian dramatist, director, poet, and novelist, is considered one of the most important contemporary African dramatists writing in English. Underlying all his work is African folklore, with its relevance to social and political elements. Critics agree that his two-year political imprisonment in Nigeria had a tremendous effect on his writing, changing his once hopeful outlook to one of growing despair and pessimism. (See also CLC, Vols. 3, 5, and Contemporary Authors, Vols. 13-16, rev. ed.)

1. Introduction
2. Alan Brien
3. Martin Esslin
4. John F. Povey
5. Margaret Laurence
6. John Updike
7. Copyright

1. Wole Soyinka