Born on 13 July 1934 at Abeokuta, near Ibadan in Western Nigeria. He studied at Government college in Ibadan 1954, he continued at the university of Leed, where later in 1973, he took his doctorate. During the civil war in Nigeria, Soyinka appealed in an article for cease fire, for this he was arrested in 1967 accused of conspiring with the Biafra rebels and was held as a political prisoner for 22 months until1969. Soyinka has published 20 works, both drama novels and poetry. He writes in English and his literary language is marked by great scope and richness of word.