Diaspora and Home-back: Origin and Evolution of Wole Soyinka’s Poetic Practice and Theory

Abstract

Wole Soyinka’s diasporic experience in foreign countries can be divided into two stages. In 1954, he went to study in the UK, having his theatrical talents exercised and improved. His works at this time mainly showed deep concern for the fate of his motherland, Nigeria. In 1964, in order to avoid political persecution, Soyinka was forced to flee to Europe and the United States, and the works at this time mainly expressed his criticism and struggles against the political dictatorship in Nigeria. These two diasporic experiences enabled Soyinka to integrate African and Western cultures into his w-orks and poetic theory. While absorbing the essence of human art, he resolutely returned to his home culture of Africa, creating a type of soul-shaking “ritual tragedy” and developing a unique theory of African tragedy.