Nobel Laureate and renowned playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed his preference for wine as a substitute for water, stating that it provides him with both inspiration and relaxation.
In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka, who turned 90 on July 13, 2024, shared his unconventional view on drinking water.
Soyinka explained that he avoids water because it “just takes up space” and offers no real satisfaction. Instead, he chooses wine, which he says has the dual effect of either sending him to sleep or inspiring him to work. “A good, robust wine either sends you to sleep right away or inspires you to work. You never know which way it will work,” the literary giant said in the interview, a teaser of which was shared on Madowo’s X account.
Reflecting on his writing process and the impact of technological advancements, Soyinka admitted that he no longer writes on paper, with the exception of occasional poetry. He noted that keeping up with technology can become overwhelming. “You don’t attempt to be up to date with everything. Because after a while, it gets too much,” he explained.
Soyinka humorously shared his frustration with modern devices that attempt to correct his writing. “The next thing, you have a machine which talks, and it talks back to you. I said shut up, I am the one doing the writing, and then it’s attempting to correct me—what type of nonsense is that?”
As for his continued literary output at 90, Soyinka credited isolation as a key source of inspiration. “I get my best ideas in isolation. And that isolation includes even being on a plane where nobody is talking to me. My space is total isolation,” he remarked.
Soyinka’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into his enduring creative spirit, even as he approaches a century of life.
