COUNTRY	NIGERIA
NAME	WOLE SOYINKA
AWARD	African Cultural And Traditional Preservation
PROFILE	The Prize for Africa Cultural and Traditional Preservation goes to a group or individual who through written works, documentaries and global mediums have promoted the need for Africa's cultural and traditional heritage to be preserved for humanity within their own country and for the Continent to share. As our former colonial powers tried to suppress our cultural heritage, some dedicated individuals risked their lives even through political harassment and strife to preserve our history. In the midst of several violent and repressive African regimes, Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, as one "who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence" becoming the first African laureate. At The Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, he delivered a series of guest lectures. Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Soyinka (born 13 July 1934) is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, the first African to be so honoured. In 1994, he was designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication. He endured imprisonment for 22 rnonths as his country slid into civil war between the federal government and the Biafrans. Though he was refused basic materials, such as books, pens, and paper, for continuing his creative work during much of his imprisonment, he did manage to write a significant body of poems and notes criticizing the Nigerian government.

CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON