Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has become the latest public figure to face travel restrictions, after confirming that the United States revoked his non-immigrant visa. He suggests the decision may be tied to his outspoken criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The renowned playwright and activist made the disclosure during a media parley on Monday themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface!” held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
Soyinka described the development as “a continuation of the saga of intolerance and ideological pettiness,” suggesting that he might be facing political retribution for his long-standing criticism of right-wing populism and the erosion of democratic values in the West.
According to him, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos officially notified him of the visa withdrawal through a letter dated Thursday, October 23, 2025. The letter, signed by the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section, informed the literary icon that his B1/B2 visa, a temporary entry permit for business or tourism, had been rendered invalid with immediate effect.
“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,” Soyinka told journalists at the event.
While the letter did not provide a specific reason for the revocation, Soyinka hinted that the action might be linked to his past remarks criticizing the Trump administration’s policies and what he often described as its “culture of intolerance.”
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