On October 28, 2025, Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian writer who in 1986 became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, held a press conference in Lagos. He was 91. He read from a letter sent by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, dated October 23, informing him that his visa had been revoked.
What the letter said
According to Soyinka, the letter gave a single explanation: “Additional information became available after the below Visa was issued.” It did not say what the information was. He was told he could apply again. The visa, a nonimmigrant visa, had been issued in 2024.
Timeline
- 1986: Soyinka wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- 2016–2017: he gives up his U.S. green card in protest after the 2016 election. Reports differ on the year.
- 2024: the visa in question is issued.
- October 23, 2025: date of the consulate’s letter.
- October 28, 2025: he announces the revocation.
What each side said
The consulate referred questions to the State Department, which did not respond to requests for comment at the time, according to the Associated Press.
Soyinka said, “I have no visa. I am banned, obviously, from the United States.” He suggested that critical remarks he had made about the President might be the cause.
What is not clear
The actual reason is unknown. The link to his remarks is his own speculation. “Banned” is his word; the letter describes a revocation with the option to reapply. We found no later report of a reinstatement or an official explanation.
Why the story drew attention
Consular officers have broad discretion to revoke a visa after it has been issued, and the notice often gives little detail. A revocation is different from a finding that a person is permanently barred, and a new application is decided on its own facts.
Sources
This article is a summary of publicly reported events, prepared for general information. It is not legal advice and does not take a position on the matters described. Immigration rules and court rulings change often, and every situation is different. For advice about your own circumstances, please speak with a licensed immigration attorney.
