To mark the 40th anniversary of Wole Soyinka’s Nobel Prize in Literature ( October 16 1986) the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, in partnership with the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), organized a ceremony at the academy’s headquarters in Rabat, Morocco on October 16 2026.
The event which was witnessed by a galaxy of students, writers and scholars which included the 2008 Nobel laureate in Literature, Prof JMG Le Clezio as well as the joint winner of the 2007 Nobel peace award, Prof Michel Boko was marked with a series of literary activities.
One of the activities at the historic event was the formal launch of the “House of the Worlds of the Books” which was established to ensure the lasting legacy of Rabat’s designation as UNESCO World Book Capital 2026.
According to the Academy, the 40th anniversary ceremony was significant because Soyinka’s body of work, has continued to enlighten global consciences, forty years after it’s consecration.
In his remarks, Prof Soyinka thanked PAWA and the Academy of Morocco for the honor done to him.
The Nobel laureate was particularly thrilled by the participation of students who read from his works, because of his belief in raising a new generation of thinkers and writers.
The above picture showed the PAWA President, Prof Bill Ndi and the Secretary General, Dr Wale Okediran welcoming Prof and Mrs Soyinka to the venue of the event.
Prof and Mrs Wole Soyinka with Prof Bill Ndi and Dr Wale Okediran the President and Secretary General respectively of the Pan African Writers Association ( PAWA) as they arrived at the venue of the 40th anniversary of Wole Soyinka’s Nobel Prize in Literature which held at the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat on Friday October 16 2026.
