I was disappointed by Achebe’s comment on my Nobel prize – Soyinka

Nobel laureate , Prof Wole Soyinka , has said he was disappointed by a comment made by the late renowned novelist , Prof Chinua Achebe , shortly after he ( Soyinka ) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 .

In a conversation with an American - based Nigerian novelist , Okey Ndibe , which was aired on Channels Television’ s Book Club , Soyinka said he considered the particular remark by Achebe uncalled for and disappointing .

Ndibe had , during the conversation with Soyinka , recalled how Achebe , at one time , said , “ The Nobel Prize did not make one the Asiwaju of African Literature . ”

He then asked Soyinka how he took that statement at the time .

Responding , Soyinka said , “ The subject was not even literature when he ( Achebe ) made that statement and so I was disappointed that he created a nexus between my normal sociopolitical life and my normal way of articulating an opinion .

“ It was almost like because I won the Nobel Prize , I have no right to offer , to do what I used to do before all my life . I responded to it , even though I wanted to make light of it . I was a little bit disappointed and I didn ’ t see the necessity ; that particular subject , which was under contention , didn ’ t relate to literature . So, it was like, oh , am I now to carry this burden for the rest of my life? That people will think I am doing what I used to do before simply because I now have a Nobel Prize . ”

Asked what he felt about how literary enthusiasts often segregate themselves into either Soyinka camp or Achebe camp , Soyinka said it boiled down to “ ignorance ” .

“ Everybody feels they have a right to pronounce authoritatively , not only on the products but on the producers of the products and their positions in society, ” he said .

The playwright said he would never speak about the works of other professionals , such as architects , musicians , doctors , lawyers . etc, the way people “ pontificate on literature . ”

Earlier, when asked what his experience had been after winning the Nobel prize , Soyinka said , “ It has bred demands , expectations ; it has bred even envy in some areas – one can cope with that – antagonism where totally unnecessary , uncalled for . But that ’ s part of human life; any kind of achievement does that .