Wole Soyinka Reveals U.S. Visa Revocation: “I’m Banned from the United States”

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that his visa to the United States has been revoked, effectively preventing him from entering the country.

Soyinka made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States, who are expecting me for this event or that event, do not waste their time,” the literary icon stated. “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.”

According to Soyinka, he received official notification of the revocation from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos through a letter dated October 23, 2025. He said the correspondence did not provide any clear reason for the decision.

An excerpt from the letter reads: “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.”

Expressing his confusion, Soyinka maintained that he has never committed any offense or breached U.S. laws.

“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he said. “I keep asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”

Soyinka did not clarify whether he intends to apply for a new visa or contest the revocation.