Wole Soyinka, Other Authors Advocate Global Cultural Exchange Through Okigbo’s Works

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and other leading literary figures have called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to further promote the works of Christopher Okigbo for global cultural exchange.

They made the call at Christopher Okigbo’s Commemorative Event themed “The Importance of Christopher Okigbo’s Nomination into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage and Literary History,” organised by the Christopher Okigbo Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO on Thursday in Abuja.

Christopher Okigbo (1932–1967), widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest post-colonial poets, was honoured in 2007 when his manuscripts, correspondence, journals, and unpublished works were inscribed into UNESCO’s prestigious Memory of the World (MoW) Register.

Speaking at the event, Soyinka, the special guest of honour, praised both the Foundation and UNESCO for keeping Okigbo’s legacy alive. He stressed that the poet’s works should be celebrated beyond Nigeria and Africa, serving as instruments of cultural exchange across all continents.

Mr. Usman Akanbi, National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), echoed the call, urging that Okigbo’s writings and those of other great African authors be showcased globally. “These works should not just remain within Nigeria or UNESCO archives. They should be carried into other continents to promote cultural dialogue,” he said.

In his keynote address, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu noted that Okigbo’s inclusion in the MoW Register underscored his global significance. According to him, Okigbo’s fusion of Igbo spirituality, Western myth, and modernist technique placed him at the forefront of postcolonial literary expression. “His recognition by UNESCO inspires cultural engagement and motivates scholars, publishers, and artists to pay greater attention to his works,” he added.

Obiageli Okigbo, daughter of the late poet and founder of the Christopher Okigbo Foundation, highlighted the cultural, historic, and artistic value of her father’s collection. She explained that the manuscripts include experimental poems in Igbo, proposals on oral tradition, drafts of his anthem for Biafra, Land of Our Birth, and other documents reflecting Nigeria’s postcolonial history.

She further revealed how her uncle, Dr. Pius Okigbo, salvaged the poet’s manuscripts during the Nigerian Civil War, preserving them until they were legally transferred to her in 2003. “This marked the journey from a family heritage to a public legacy,” she said.

The event reaffirmed Okigbo’s enduring influence in modern African literature and renewed calls for his works to be used as bridges for global cultural dialogue.