Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka VIII

The eighth edition of Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka, curated by Nigerian archivist, public historian and cultural curator Dr. Oludamola Adebowale, will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Professor Wole Soyinka’s 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature under the theme “Ake to Stockholm.”

Taking place as part of the 27th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) and in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), the 2026 edition will bring together a museum-styled archival exhibition, a short documentary film, an illustrated comic book for younger audiences, an international scholarly panel discussion and a contemporary art exhibition.

The flagship exhibition will run from 16 to 29 November 2026 at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos.

The theme, Ake to Stockholm, traces the journey from Soyinka’s formative years in Ake, Abeokuta, to the historic moment in 1986 when he became the first African writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. It invites audiences to look beyond the award itself and explore the experiences, creative influences, intellectual struggles and historical circumstances that shaped one of Africa’s most influential literary figures.

More than a celebration of a historic achievement, the theme presents Soyinka’s journey as an opportunity to examine the relationship between place, memory, literature and global recognition. It foregrounds the importance of documenting the journey behind the milestone and preserving the stories, records and ideas that give historical achievements their deeper meaning.

Launched in 2019, Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka is an annual curatorial initiative dedicated to exploring Soyinka’s life, literary contributions and intellectual legacy through archival research, visual storytelling and public engagement. Curated by Oludamola Adebowale over eight editions, the project has developed a multidisciplinary approach to public history, bringing together historical materials and contemporary creative expression.

Its participation in the Lagos Book and Art Festival provides an opportunity to situate Soyinka’s legacy within wider conversations about African literature, cultural identity, historical memory and the continuing relevance of the arts in public life. The partnership with CORA further connects the project to a longstanding platform for literary and artistic engagement in Nigeria.

At Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, the museum-styled exhibition will feature archival photographs, historical documents and visual narratives illuminating Soyinka’s literary journey and the significance of the Nobel Prize. The exhibition will invite visitors to engage with the historical record while reflecting on the enduring relevance of Soyinka’s ideas concerning freedom, justice, political responsibility and human dignity.

The programme will also feature a short documentary film exploring the Nobel milestone through archival materials and recorded testimony. An illustrated comic book will introduce younger readers to Soyinka’s life and literary journey through an accessible visual narrative, encouraging a new generation to engage with Nigeria’s literary history and its global significance.

A major intellectual component of the programme will be “From Nobel to Posterity: Archiving Wole Soyinka’s Literary Legacy,” a panel discussion hosted by the Section on Literary Archives of the International Council on Archives (ICA). Bringing together archivists and scholars from around the world, the discussion will consider how literary archives are preserved, documented and made accessible, and how institutions can safeguard the records through which future generations will understand Soyinka’s contribution to world literature.

The contemporary art programme will extend the project’s engagement with Soyinka’s legacy. At Adegbola Gallery, The Rebel Series (WS in 1986), featuring artist Adewale Kolawole John and curated by Oludamola Adebowale, will explore Soyinka and the historical moment of his Nobel recognition through contemporary artistic interpretation.

Speaking ahead of the programme, Adebowale said: “For eight years, Timeless Memories has been about more than celebrating Wole Soyinka. It has been about preserving the materials, stories and ideas that help us understand his place in history. With Ake to Stockholm, we are inviting audiences to consider the journey behind the Nobel Prize, the experiences that shaped Soyinka, and the responsibility we share in ensuring that his legacy remains accessible to future generations. We are delighted that this edition will form part of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, in partnership with CORA, extending these conversations to an even wider audience.”

Through exhibitions, archival scholarship, film, illustration and contemporary art, the eighth edition positions cultural memory as a living resource for education, research and public engagement.

ABOUT TIMELESS MEMORIES

Timeless Memories: Elastic Effects of Wole Soyinka is an annual curatorial and public history project conceptualised and curated by Dr. Oludamola Adebowale. Launched in 2019, the initiative explores the life and works of Professor Wole Soyinka through exhibitions, documentary film, publications and creative interpretations of archival materials.

ABOUT THE LAGOS BOOK AND ART FESTIVAL

The Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) is an annual literary and cultural festival that provides a platform for books, the arts, public dialogue and engagement with social and cultural issues.

ABOUT CORA

The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) is a Nigerian cultural organisation known for promoting literature, the visual arts and critical engagement with contemporary cultural issues.

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Source: Legit.ng