| Previous Seminars 2005 (Off Campus) | |||
| PRESS
RELEASE 20 September (embargoed till October 1) |
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AFRICAN
NOBEL PRIZE WINNER TO GIVE PEN LECTURE
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first African writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature, the poet,
playwright and activist, Wole Soyinka has agreed to
be the PEN lecturer for 2005.
Soyinka will give two lectures only in Australia, the first on October 25 in Melbourne at the State Library and the second on October 26 at the Sydney Theatre in the Rocks. Described by the writer Nadine Gordimer as “the supreme and splendid example of the writer meeting the demands of his time”, Wole Soyinka, is an important voice in promoting democracy and human rights in Africa and around the world. Soyinka’s works include his childhood memoir, Aké (1981), The Open Sore of a Continent (1996) and The Man Died: The Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka (1972). In 2004 he gave the BBC Reith Lectures in which he considered fear as a predominant theme in world politics, speaking of the conflict between power and freedom, the complex motives behind unthinkable acts of violence and the meaning of human dignity.Professor Soyinka will speak in the lead up to the PEN Day of the Imprisoned Writer, which this year marks the tenth anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Saro Wiwa, a Nigerian novelist, television producer and friend of Wole Soyinka, was executed in 1995 after defending the Ogoni people, whose lives and territories were devastated by oil companies. PEN member, Bryce Courtenay will introduce Professor Soyinka at 6.30 pm. Sydney PEN President Katherine Thomson says, “Professor Soyinka’s ideas, books and practical activism have much to inspire those concerned about democracy, human rights and freedom of expression in today’s world.” The Melbourne lecture starts at 8pm and will be introduced by Dr Chandani Lokuge of Monash University’s Centre for Postcolonial Writing. Major sponsors include the Centre for Postcolonial Writing, Monash University, Qantas, Sofitel Wentworth Hotel and Sydney Theatre. Gleebooks in Sydney also supports the event. Sydney tickets available www.sydneytheatre.org.au or 02 9250 1999. Melbourne tickets available from Victorian Writers’ Centre, telephone: 03 9654 9068. |
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