WSICE 2025: Youth, Culture, Global Dialogue Celebrate Soyinka at 91
The city of Abeokuta is set to come alive this weekend as the 2025 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) kicks off in celebration of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s 91st birthday.
Scheduled to hold on Sunday, July 13, the programme will feature a dynamic mix of performances, exhibitions, dialogues, and youth-led initiatives at Soyinka’s symbolic “Ijegba Forest of Literature.”
This year also marks the 16th anniversary of WSICE, a platform that has grown steadily from its humble beginnings in 2010, when it was inaugurated to commemorate Soyinka’s 76th birthday. Over the years, WSICE has developed into a globally recognized cultural and intellectual gathering that fosters artistic expression, critical thought, and advocacy among young Africans and the broader international community.
The 2025 theme, “Decolonisation of African Youth: Agenda for Our Future Leadership,” reflects a bold and timely call for the continent’s young people to reclaim their narrative and take charge of shaping Africa’s future.
It sets the tone for a programme designed to explore the challenges and opportunities facing African youth in a globalised world examining issues of identity, leadership, and cultural heritage in postcolonial contexts.
In line with its continental and global reach, the 2025 edition of WSICE will feature events in two locations: Abeokuta, Nigeria, on July 13, and London, United Kingdom, from July 24 to 25, in collaboration with The Africa Centre.
This dual-location format not only expands the reach of WSICE but also creates a bridge between African and diaspora communities, reinforcing a shared commitment to cultural revitalisation and transnational dialogue.
The Abeokuta celebration promises an immersive experience filled with music, drama, poetry, art exhibitions, and intellectual engagements. Among the expected highlights are poetry recitations by emerging African voices, live performances of stage plays inspired by Soyinka’s works, a youth leadership forum, and curated exhibitions reflecting African heritage and social consciousness.
Film screenings and a musical concert featuring Afrocentric sounds are also lined up to engage participants through both thought and entertainment.
Central to the event’s philosophy is its focus on youth empowerment. WSICE has consistently created space for young people to articulate their dreams, interrogate societal structures, and propose new models of engagement. Many past participants have gone on to distinguish themselves in the arts, academia, activism, and public service evidence of the festival’s lasting impact on the development of young leaders.
Speaking ahead of the event, WSICE organisers emphasized that this year’s theme is particularly significant in light of growing global conversations around identity, cultural ownership, and the role of African youth in driving social transformation.
They noted that the 2025 edition would deepen the conversation around decolonisation not just as a political or historical process, but as a personal and collective journey towards reclaiming African agency.
The partnership with The Africa Centre in London represents a strategic expansion of the festival’s global network and reinforces its pan-African mission. Activities in London will include panel discussions, networking events, and exhibitions aimed at fostering connections between Africa and its diaspora while continuing the discourse on leadership, culture, and transformation.
Since its inception, WSICE has remained deeply tied to the values of Professor Wole Soyinka an unwavering advocate for human rights, freedom of expression, and cultural dignity. His vision has shaped the festival into a platform not just for celebration, but for activism, education, and legacy-building.
As Soyinka turns 91, the 2025 WSICE not only honours his towering contributions to literature, theatre, and political thought but also serves as a beacon for the next generation encouraging them to think critically, lead boldly, and remain rooted in the richness of their cultural identities.
