Stakeholders have intensified efforts to recognise the need to preserve Nigeria’s literary history and make the works of its writers accessible to younger generations.
They made this submission at the unveiling of the ninth edition of the Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka project with the theme: “Ake to Stockholm,” which marks 40 years since Professor Wole Soyinka became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
Curator of the Project, Dr. Oludamola Adebowale said the Timeless Memories project sought to encourage renewed attention to writers beyond Soyinka, using his achievements to draw audiences towards the wider body of African literature.
Adebowale noted that the project, which will hold as part of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, LABAF in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, is aimed at using Soyinka’s journey from his formative years in Ake to international recognition to examine the importance of literary archives and cultural memory.
The speaker said the project was intended to use Soyinka’s global recognition as an entry point to celebrate other writers and strengthen the cultural ecosystem.
According to hiim, the programme will include a museum-style exhibition at Kongi’s Gallery, Freedom Park, from November 16 to 29, 2026, featuring archival photographs, historical documents and some of Soyinka’s personal effects.
He also announced to produce a short film and an illustrated comic book aimed at younger audiences, presenting Soyinka not only as a Nobel laureate but also as a writer, dramatist and public intellectual whose work raises questions about freedom, justice and human dignity.
”An international panel discussion, “From Nobel to Posterity: Archiving Wole Soyinka’s Literary Legacy,” will bring together archivists from Harvard University, the University of Reading and the University of Leeds to examine the preservation and future accessibility of his works.
Adebowale added that the programme will also feature an exhibition titled “WS in 1986,” featuring contemporary artist Adewale Olawole-John at Adewale Gallery.
The Project Director, Jahman Anikulapo, said the initiative was designed not merely to celebrate Soyinka’s Nobel achievement but to preserve the history, experiences and intellectual struggles that shaped his work.
Anikulapo said the project had, over eight years, explored the relationship between literature, history and memory, adding that preserving cultural achievements was necessary to ensure that future generations understood the contributions of African writers.
In the highlight of the event, organisers unveiled the cover artwork for the illustrated comic book aimed at younger audiences, while also presenting a thriller of the short documentary film.