Until he became, in October 1986, the first black African writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, Wole Soyinka was probably best known within his own country, Nigeria, as a political activist with a fierce commitment to individual liberty and human rights. His involvement over the previous quarter of a century had alerted his compatriots to the shortcomings of those in power and with responsibilities. For some younger Nigerians and for those outside the educational system, he had become particularly well known because of his efforts to reduce the number of accidents on the nation's roads. Many people were, of course, aware of his varied and impressive achievements as a writer: he had many enthusiastic and discriminating admirers, and he exerted a major influence on younger generations of creative Nigerians. He also had his critics. Some of those on the Left considered him irresponsible and ideologically suspect...