Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has warned that societies which neglect their history and fail to confront injustice risk descending into tyranny, stressing that cultural identity and historical consciousness are central to justice and national renewal.
Soyinka sounded the warning on Thursday while delivering the centenary lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC), Lagos, where he traced the origins of the club to a broader struggle for social liberation, dignity and self-definition among Nigerians.
Speaking as Guest Lecturer at the event anchored by Bro. Air Commodore (Rtd). Ademola Onitiju Mni.
Chairman Centenary Lecture & Seminar Committee, the Nobel Laureate said the organisation that later became the Yoruba Tennis Club was conceived not merely as a social platform, but as part of a historical movement to reclaim dignity in the face of oppression.
He described the club’s name as a powerful affirmation of identity, rejecting the notion that embracing Yoruba heritage contradicts global or universal values.
“What is wrong with being Yoruba?” Soyinka asked, insisting that cultural rootedness does not negate cosmopolitanism. According to him, humanity is not built on cultural erasure, but on the recognition, respect and dignity of origins.
“The founders of the club clearly understood who they were and what they stood for,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s post-independence experience, Soyinka observed that many leaders were more eager to replace colonial rulers than to dismantle the structures of injustice they inherited. He noted that the excitement of independence often eclipsed the need for deep reflection on governance, accountability and justice.
The playwright explained that his early work, A Dance of the Forests, was deliberately pessimistic, as it was meant to warn against repeating historical errors. Contrary to expectations that the play should celebrate independence, Soyinka said he believed the real task of nation-building had only just begun.
“The future is not merely about liberating ourselves from the past,” he said, adding that genuine progress requires remembering, confronting and learning from past mistakes to avoid reproducing them in new forms.
He cautioned that tyranny does not always arrive abruptly, but often emerges when societies neglect justice, silence dissent and allow leaders to step comfortably into the shoes of former oppressors.
“The failure to confront historical wrongs makes nations vulnerable to repeating cycles of abuse and domination,” the Nobel Laureate warned.
Soyinka further stressed that institutions such as the Yoruba Tennis Club bear responsibilities beyond celebration, urging them to remain vigilant spaces for reflection, dialogue and moral courage as Nigeria navigates its future.
According to him, the centenary lecture should serve not only as a moment of celebration, but as a call to renewed commitment to justice, cultural integrity and historical awareness.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawumi Gasper, reaffirmed the club’s commitment to preserving history, culture and intellectual leadership.
He described the centenary milestone as a testament to the institution’s enduring legacy and sustained role in shaping Nigeria’s cultural and intellectual landscape, noting that the club, founded a century ago, has remained firmly rooted in tradition while engaging contemporary issues.
“Yoruba Tennis Club has long served as a meeting point for leaders, thinkers and professionals committed to societal progress,” Gasper said.
He described Prof. Soyinka as a man of deep intellectual capacity, cultural depth and moral clarity, noting that the interactive session provided a rare opportunity to engage with wide-ranging discussions on literature, culture, nationhood, humanity, conscience and the enduring role of history in shaping societies.
Gasper added that the engagement was particularly significant for students in attendance, many of whom have studied the works of the Nobel Laureate, urging them to seize the opportunity to learn directly from one of Africa’s foremost intellectual voices.
He also paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Yoruba Tennis Club, acknowledging their foresight, sacrifices and commitment to sustaining the institution’s values and traditions.
