Nobel Prize-winning novelist

In Wole Soyinka’s video interview with the Museum of African Diaspora, he discussed the importance of learning from history and not repeating it. He spoke specifically about how colonial powers have impacted Africa’s past and present. His words were captivating and filled with passion as he described his life experiences in Nigeria. He pointed out that people must take responsibility for their past in order to learn from it, instead of simply being passive bystanders or victims. Soyinka argued that by learning from our shared history, we can better understand the present realities of oppression. During the interview, he was adamant about pointing out how colonialism continues to affect many countries today-most notably Nigeria-and how oppressive forces still reign over this continent that is often forgotten or ignored by world superpowers. He maintained that progress comes through knowledge; understanding our past helps us shape a brighter future. I found myself captivated by Soyinka’s words throughout his entire speech and I believe his message carries great importance in today’s society- both within countries affected by colonialism such as Nigeria and those unaffected such as America who are given much more privilege due to its former status as a major colonial power. As people living in a time where freedom has never been so heavily guarded yet simultaneously challenged around the world, we should be reminded of what Soyinka said during this interview: We need to remember our history on an individual level but also collectively if we want to move forward into a more equitable society for all (Soyinka).