Why Was a Famous Writer Barred from the US?

A well-known Nigerian writer, Wole Soyinka, has revealed that the United States has canceled his visa.

This news comes after he had been granted a visa last year. The 91-year-old writer, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, mentioned that he was instructed to apply again if he wishes to visit the US.

Soyinka's History with the US

Soyinka is no stranger to the US, having taught at prestigious universities there since the mid-1990s. In 2016, he made headlines when he tore up his US green card and gave up his residency. This was his way of protesting the election of President Donald Trump.

The Cancellation Notice

On Tuesday, Soyinka showed a letter from the US Consulate General in Lagos. The letter, dated October 23, stated that new information had come to light after his visa was issued. It asked him to bring his passport for the visa to be physically canceled.

When asked about this, Soyinka said,

"I have no visa, I am banned obviously from the United States."

He also mentioned that if people wanted to see him, they knew where to find him.

Recent Visa Policy Changes

This news comes after the US Embassy in Nigeria announced in July that Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas would now receive single-entry, three-month permits. Before this, they could get up to five-year, multiple-entry visas.

Unanswered Questions

It's unclear why Soyinka's visa was revoked. The US Embassy in Nigeria did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This situation raises questions about the visa process and the reasons behind such decisions.