In 1986, soyinka became the first african to be awarded the nobel prize in literature. The years of childhood is author wole soyinka s autobiographical account about events in his childhood between about and in the town of ake. The years of childhood with an equally important chronicle of his turbulent life as an adult in and in exile from his beloved, beleaguered homeland. Soyinka describes the book about his childhood biography as the intellectual wateringhole of ake and its environs. A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian. Sep 05, 2010 wole soyinka was a bright, curious child and his account of his early childhood in the town of abeokuta in western nigeria is enchanting. Ake is an autobiography of wole soyinkas early life in nigeria. He is a spiritual writer not in the sense of spiritual matters but in the sense of the level of magic he conjurs with his words. A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian no. This is one of the bestknown plays by africas major dramatist, wole soyinka. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake.
The years of childhood by wole soyinka librarything. Soyinka has written two novels, the interpreters and season of anomy. The years of childhood pages 2528 mr olagbajus bachelor house behind the school became a second lunchhour home. He writes with his adult voice, but maintains the childs perspective and understanding throughout, the one exception a nostalgic contrasting of streetfronts then and now. Years of childhood by wole soyinka and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ake a dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. The years of childhood which can be read as an extended metaphor for growing up or, more specifically, growing up in a small town in western nigeria and becoming a worldrecognized author and nobel prize winner. Author wole soyinka relates his childhood, beginning from the tender age of three. Prof wole soyinka was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1986. It tells the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake, where the author spent the first 12 years of his life, before moving in 1946 to the government college in ibadan. A relentlessly curious child who pdf loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound, raised by christian parents and by a grandfather who introduced him to yoruba spiritual traditions. He was awarded the 1986 nobel prize in literature, the first african to be honoured in that category. Through the same iyan, i made my first close school friend, osiki, simply by discovering that.
A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a. It tells the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake, where the author spent the first 12 years of his life, before moving in 1946 to the government college in ibadan. His favourite food appeared to be the pounded yam, iyan, at which i soon became his keen accomplice. The years of childhood by wole soyinka pdf, epub, fb2. Overall, i enjoyed this book, but often the writing felt too dense for the lighthearted stories about soyinka s early years. His father is essay, headmaster of the local equivalent of an elementary school, a man who delights in arguing. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. Wole soyinka biography childhood, life achievements. Aug 02, 2019 the eldest son of a primaryschool headmaster and a devout christian mother, wole soyinka lived a comfortable life in the ake parsonage in abeokuta. The years of childhood by wole soyinka pdf download.
A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. See all books authored by wole soyinka, including death and the kings horseman, and ake. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Avaliable format in pdf, epub, mobi, kindle, e book and audiobook. Wole soyinka born july th, 1934 wole soyinka, in full akinwande olu wole soyinka, was born on july, 1934, in abeokuta, nigeria. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, poet and play writer. The first african to receive the nobel prize in literature, as well as a political activist of prodigious energies, wole soyinka now follows his modern classic ake. The years of childhood by wole soyinka africa book club.
Its not every day that the childhood memoirs of a nobel laureate come to hand. I expected to get a lot more from wole soyinkas ake than i did. The years of childhood received great critical acclaim and won the prestigious 1983 anisfieldwolf book award. Ak the years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ak. In 2006 he published another memoir, you must set forth at dawn. According to soyinka, this was a period of anticolonial fervor, so the entire anticolonial training was something i imbibed quite early, even before the womens movement. Ritual scarification and autobiographical forms in wole soyinkas ake. Dec 23, 2019 ake wole soyinka pdf the eldest son of a primaryschool headmaster and a devout christian mother, wole soyinka lived a comfortable life in the ake parsonage in abeokuta. This study guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of ake. He wrote in the voice of an adult wole soyinka, and he was able to capture the magic of childhood and his growing up and the complexity that he faced in a changing culture, the emerging western culture encroaching on. You have remained in right site to start getting this info.
Soyinka was the first black african to be awarded the nobel prize for literature. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage. This vivid, exuberant book is the authors account of his childhood in colonial nigeria. Soyinka s father is a school headmaster, and his mother is a devoted christian who comes from a. The years of childhood, was published in 1981 and followed by the companion. Wole soyinka, in full akinwande olu wole soyinka, was born. Synopsis the first volume of wole soyinka s acclaimed series of autobiographical works.
In 1981 soyinka published his autobiographical work ake. The years of childhood, which won a 1983 anisfieldwolf book award. Soyinkas father is a school headmaster, and his mother is a devoted christian who comes from a prominent tribal family. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood. Wole soyinka s most popular book is death and the kings horseman. When he was 4 years old, spurred by insatiable curiosity and the beat of a marching drum, wole soyinka slipped silently through the gate of his parents yard and. Years of childhood book online at best prices in india on. Overall, i enjoyed this book, but often the writing felt too dense for the lighthearted stories about soyinkas early years. Wole soyinka was born in the city of abeokuta, nigeria, which was then a part of the british empire. Ake, his account of his first decade, 1935 to 1945, is of another, higher order. When he was 4 years old, spurred by insatiable curiosity and the beat of a marching drum, wole soyinka slipped silently through the gate of his. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into.
Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline. The narrative moves effortlessly from very early recollections to the point at. Wole soyinka was a bright, curious child and his account of his early childhood in the town of abeokuta in western nigeria is enchanting. He was privileged to have access to radio and electricity at home as his father, samuel ayodele soyinka s held prominent position as an anglican minister and headmaster. Its goal was to work with local communities in analysing their problems and to express some of their grievances in dramatic sketches. Ake years childhood by soyinka abebooks passion for books. Soyinka founded another theatrical group called the guerrilla unit. Village life in a small region of nigeria is the real theme of this autobiographical account of soyinkas first eleven years. Wole soyinka biography, age, children, family, house. Femi orebe on march 10, 20in femi orebe, sundayleave a comment professor soyinka wrote two books, the man died and ake. Ake the years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound, raised by christian parents and by a grandfather who introduced him to yoruba spiritual traditions. Soyinka s rich and evocative prose tells the tales of his schooldays and adventures, recollecting fears and dangers.
The years of childhood by wole soyinka and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A member of the yoruba people, soyinka attended government college and university college in ibadan before graduating in 1958 with a degree in english from the university of leeds in england. The years of childhood is author wole soyinkas autobiographical account about events in his childhood between about and in the town of ake. Download file pdf ake the years of childhood wole soyinka recognizing the quirk ways to get this books ake the years of childhood wole soyinka is additionally useful. The years of childhood is a memoir by nigerian writer wole soyinka that was. Wole soyinkas most popular book is death and the kings horseman.
Wole soyinka has 126 books on goodreads with 2614356 ratings. Playwright, poet, novelist, polemical essayist and now. Expectation demanded something special, something revelatory perhaps, from the formative years of a man who grew up to be one of the greatest writers of all time. The years of childhood, right within the prison walls. The years of childhood, was published in 1981 and followed by the companion pieces isara. He chose a moment in his childhood, from when he was four to when he was 11 and he represented that. Publication date 1983 topics soyinka, wole, authors, nigerian.
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