Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has warned that societies which neglect their history and fail to confront injustice risk sliding into tyranny. He stressed that cultural identity and historical consciousness are essential to justice, national renewal, and sustainable progress.
Soyinka made the remarks while delivering the Centenary Lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC) in Lagos, where he traced the club’s origins to a broader struggle for dignity, social liberation, and self-definition among Nigerians. He said the organisation was conceived not merely as a social club but as part of a historical movement against oppression.
The playwright described the club’s name as a strong affirmation of identity, rejecting the idea that embracing Yoruba heritage conflicts with universal values. Asking, “What is wrong with being Yoruba?”, Soyinka argued that cultural rootedness strengthens, rather than undermines, cosmopolitanism, noting that humanity thrives on respect for origins, not cultural erasure.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s post-independence experience, Soyinka said many leaders focused on replacing colonial rulers without dismantling inherited structures of injustice. He added that the excitement of independence often overshadowed the need for accountability, justice, and deep reflection on governance.
He explained that his early play, A Dance of the Forests, was intentionally pessimistic to warn against repeating past mistakes, stressing that tyranny often emerges gradually when justice is ignored and dissent silenced. Meanwhile, YTC Chairman, Chief Olawumi Gasper, reaffirmed the club’s commitment to preserving history and culture, describing its centenary as a testament to its enduring intellectual and cultural legacy.