On this day in 1934: Akinwande Oluwole “Wole” Babatunde Soyinka was born.
He is a Nigerian playwright and poet. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature, the first African to be honored in that category.
Wole Soyinka was born in Abeokuta. After study in Nigeria and the UK, he worked with the Royal Court Theatre in London. He went on to write plays that were produced in both countries, in theaters and on radio.
He took an active role in Nigeria’s political history and its struggle for independence from Great Britain. In 1965, he seized the Western Nigeria Broadcasting service studio and broadcast a demand for the cancellation of the Western Nigeria Regional elections.
Also on this day in 1980; Bechuanaland’s (now Botswana) first President, Seretse Khama died on 13 July 1980 he died in Gabarone, Botswana.
He was born on 1 July 1921 at Serowe, Botswana. His grandfather was Kgosi (King) Khama III, (also known as Khama the Good) of the Bangwato people. Under his rule and with his approval, Bechuanaland had been put under British protection in the 19th century.