Korean Cultural Centre Leads Abuja Celebrations for Wole Soyinka’s 90th Birthday, Seeks Expanded Literary Partnership Between South Korea and Nigeria
Mathew Eloyi
The Korean Cultural Centre, in collaboration with Arojah Royal Theatre, is taking the lead in celebrating the 90th birthday of renowned Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
Established in 2010, the Korean Cultural Centre has become a major stakeholder in Nigeria’s creative and cultural industry through its numerous intervention activities and cultural exchange programs. This year, the Centre will host “Kongi’s Harvest 2024: A Wole Soyinka @90 Event,” featuring theme talks, panel discussions, book exhibitions, and Wole Soyinka-themed performances.
The celebration, themed “Wole Soyinka: The Messenger and His Messages,” promises an array of cultural and literary activities, highlighting Soyinka’s impact on literature and society. The event will take place today, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Korean Cultural Centre, 2nd Floor, Rivers House, Central Business District, Abuja.
A key highlight of the evening will be a special presentation by Sujin Lim and Haley Suh, who will explore the reception of Professor Wole Soyinka in South Korea and discuss how nations can leverage the influence of a global literary icon like Soyinka to expand their literary partnerships.
A bilingual host, reporter, interpreter, and writer, Haley Suh was born in South Korea and educated in the United States. She is a writer and reporter at BeFM, Busan’s public English broadcaster, covering both domestic and international issues. Suh is also an experienced host and interpreter for multiple international events.
CEO of an international picture bookshop in Busan and a radio writer for Busan English Broadcasting, Sujin Lim organizes and hosts book talks, art exhibitions, and author interviews, featuring books loved in Korea and around the world. Her participation underscores the event’s commitment to fostering cultural exchanges between Korea and Nigeria.
in the statement, Director, Korean Cultural Centre, Mr. Kim Chang-ki, “on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of South Korea, we cannot help but join the rest of the world in celebrating such a great man. So, we wish Professor Soyinka a happy 90th birthday.”
The event will be chaired by Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, and will feature other prominent guests, including Lt. Gen. (Amb.) T.Y. Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, Hon. Aisha Augie, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, Chief Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, and more.
Kongi’s Harvest has been an annual event since 2011, celebrating Professor Soyinka’s literary and cultural contributions. This year’s edition aims to deepen cultural ties between Nigeria and Korea, showcasing the power of literature and cultural exchange in bridging nations and fostering mutual understanding.