Description:
Wole Soyinka publicly broke from his parents’ faith in early adolescence, yet his anti-Christian stance was not fully realized until his early thirties. Thus, a rich religious dialogue animates the first eight years of his artistic career, 1958–1965. In works from these years (during which Nigeria gained its independence), Soyinka keenly observes and insightfully images Christianity yet holds it at a distance. Soyinka’s changing religious outlook is examined through three works from this period: Camwood on the Leaves, The Interpreters, and The Road. Actions suggesting that he was gradually letting go of his inherited Christian values are also explored.