US revokes Wole Soyinka’s visa

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States government has revoked his non-immigrant visa, effectively barring him from entering the country. He made this known during a media parley titled “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface!” held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

Soyinka said he received an official letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos dated October 23, 2025, notifying him that his B1/B2 visa, issued on April 2, 2024, had been revoked. The letter, issued by the Non-Immigrant Visa Section, stated that the decision was made after “additional information became available” following the visa’s issuance.

Expressing surprise, the literary icon said he had never committed any offence to warrant such action. “I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he told journalists, insisting he had no criminal or moral record against the U.S. government.

Soyinka suggested that the revocation could be linked to his long-standing criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he described as a “white Idi Amin.” He added that while the move might appear political, he bore no grudge against the American people. “I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have legitimate business with me,” he said.

The development follows an earlier incident in September 2025, when Soyinka declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate to attend a re-interview for visa holders scheduled for September 11. He initially dismissed the letter as a scam but later confirmed its authenticity, refusing to honour the invitation, which he described as “inappropriate” on a day he believes should be one of reflection for Americans.

It would be recalled that in 2016, Soyinka publicly tore his U.S. Green Card after Donald Trump’s election victory, saying he could not associate with a government led by the former president.