US Revokes Wole Soyinka's Visa: Nobel Laureate Banned from Entry, Blames 'Idi Amin in Whiteface'

The US government has revoked Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka's B1/B2 non-immigrant visa, effectively banning him from the country. Soyinka expressed shock, referencing his opposition to the Trump administration and a prior refusal to attend a visa re-interview.US Revokes Wole Soyinka's Visa: Nobel Laureate Banned from Entry, Blames 'Idi Amin in Whiteface'

The United States government has officially revoked the non-immigrant visa of internationally renowned writer and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, a decision that he claims makes his entry into the country "impossible."

The revocation of his B1/B2 visa, typically used for business and tourism, was announced by the Nigerian playwright himself during a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The event was explicitly held to inform US-based hosts and audiences expecting him for scheduled events.

Professor Soyinka confirmed the development, stating he received an official notification letter from the NIV Section of the US Consulate General in Lagos, dated October 23, 2025. A portion of the letter, as cited by the Nobel Laureate, stated:

"This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations."

The revocation details listed Soyinka's name, date of birth, and the affected visa classification (B1/B2), which was issued in Lagos on April 2, 2024.