The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) held at the Africa Centre in Southwark- Central London on July 18, 2026 in celebration of Wole Soyinka’s 92nd birthday was more than a gathering of men of letters and culture. It opened a multi-dimensional approach to cultural mobility and fluidity in a globalised world, hence the theme, Culture Without Borders.

The most prominent part of the event was the Nobel laureate’s mentoring of teeming youths in an informal setting that broke barriers with all their questions answered.

The panel of discussants which featured an Afro-Caribbean poet, Imru Bakari explored the Pan African ethics without defining ethics. The panel decried the recent phobia in South Africa and described it as an affront to pan Africanism.

The greatest upliftment one got from the event is the complete immersion of the celebrant Professor Wole Soyinka (ever energetic) in his interactions with the exchange youths. The session curated by Dr Samantha Iwowo was a deep interaction with the Nobel laureate by the youths who had watched the literary giant from afar, but who were now in face to face with him. Indeed, it was a remarkable engagement in a no-bar interaction and photo selfies.

With excitement, the participants wished the legend of African literature and a fierce fighter of injustices a thunderous happy birthday and many more years of service to preservation of human culture and heritage.

The greatest gift world leaders and especially Nigerian leaders can give Wole Soyinka is a corruption free egalitarian society without inequality and strifes as a reward for his consistent and tireless struggles against oppression and injustices all over Africa and his current travails with the White Idi Amin of United States of America who revoked his visa for his speaking out against his immigration policies.

In attendance was Prof Wilson Mano amongst other scholars. The MD/CEO of The Africa Centre, Mrs Yewande Amusan who is also the Chairman of FirstCap did the opening and closing remarks while the Executive Producer of WSICE, Dr Olateju Kareem wrapped the session with insight to the vision and mission of the international cultural program in years to come.