Brazilian President, Lula Hosts Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka in Brasília
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hosted Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, in what has been described as a symbolic meeting of cultural and intellectual minds.
The encounter took place in Brasília and underscored the strengthening of Brazil–Africa ties through shared heritage and literature.
During the visit, Soyinka presented President Lula with a Portuguese translation of his classic work, Myth, Literature, and the African World, now titled Mito, literatura e o mundo africano. The gesture was seen as a celebration of Brazil’s deep historical and cultural links to Africa, particularly Nigeria, whose traditions remain influential in Brazilian society through language, religion, music, and art.
President Lula, who has consistently emphasized cultural diplomacy as a tool for unity, expressed admiration for Soyinka’s contributions to literature and human rights.
The meeting was also viewed as a reaffirmation of Brazil’s recognition of African intellectual traditions and their relevance to the global conversation on democracy, freedom, and identity.
Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, has long used his works to explore themes of myth, history, politics, and social justice. His visit to Brazil highlights his ongoing role as an international cultural ambassador, bridging continents through the universality of literature.
Observers say the meeting was more than ceremonial, pointing to Brazil’s renewed interest in strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties with Africa under Lula’s administration.
It also reflects a growing recognition of literature and the arts as vehicles for international solidarity.
