Some Early Soyinka Letters

Abstract

Among the papers of James Simmons held at the Rose Library of Emory University are nine letters he received from Wole Soyinka as well as one from Soyinka’s British partner, Barbara Dixon, both of whom had been his classmates at Leeds University in the mid-1950s. The letters cover Soyinka’s activities from July 29, 1958, a year after he had graduated from Leeds, until January 13, 1960, just after he returned to Nigeria. During this period Soyinka had worked as a broadcaster for the BBC, been a play reader for the Royal Court Theatre, and a teacher in London schools. He also travelled to Paris seeking employment as a singer. Much of this time he and Barbara were under financial pressure, and their relationship eventually broke up a year after their child had been born. These letters and others like them from later years in his life yield vital information for Soyinka’s future biographers.