Real Reason Wole Soyinka’s US Visa Was Revoked
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that the United States government revoked his visa.
The author linked the action to his long history of criticizing political leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The renowned playwright revealed this during a media event held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Freedom Park in Lagos.
He explained that he received a formal notice from the U.S. Consulate on Thursday, October 23, 2025, informing him that his non-immigrant B1/B2 visa, issued in April 2024, had been cancelled.
The letter stated that “additional information” became available after the visa was granted, prompting the revocation.
Soyinka, who read the letter publicly at the event titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!”, said the decision may have stemmed from his unfiltered criticism of world leaders.
He said that his outspokenness against racism, oppression, and bad governance might have influenced the action taken by U.S. authorities.
The Nobel Prize winner stressed that he harbours no resentment toward the United States despite the decision.
According to him, he would still welcome Americans with genuine reasons to interact with him.
The letter read: “Dear Mr Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked in pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States. Additional information became available after the below visa was issued.
“This revocation refers only to the visa listed below.
“Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA.
“Visa classification(symbol): B1/B2
Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos.”
In 2016, Soyinka had famously destroyed his U.S. Green Card following Trump’s election victory, describing the move as a protest against policies he considered divisive and unjust.
