Wole Soyinka: A Name Is More Than The Tyranny Of Taste
FESPACO 2013 - Read The Transcript Of Wole Soyinka's Epic Keynote Address Speech Click here to read the complete report . Tweet "A Name is More Than the Tyranny of Taste" is a celebrated essay by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. First delivered as a keynote address in 2013, the essay explores the cultural, political, and historical significance of African names in the face of colonial legacy. Key themes from Soyinka's work include: Colonial Imposition: He critiques how colonial powers and missionaries historically stripped Africans of their native names, replacing them with European or biblical ones under the guise of "civilization" or pronunciation ease. Decolonizing Identity: Soyinka argues that returning to or embracing native African names is a vital act of decolonization, as a name is deeply tied to an individual's heritage, destiny, and history. The "Tyranny of Taste": This phrase refers to the Eurocentric standards that ...