Tunde Folawiyo | The Impact of Boutros Boutros-Ghali

The African continent has long been home to a variety of influential figures whose contributions to humanity are immeasurable. From Nelson Mandela’s admirable civil rights activism to Muhammad Ali’s outstanding athleticism, these figures not only demonstrated success in their endeavours, but gave hope to a people who had previously experienced much hardship. Among these figures is Boutros Boutros-Ghali, a figure who led significant strides in a variety of imperative causes throughout the continent. Citizens of Africa such as Tunde Folawiyo may be fascinated by the story of Boutros Boutros-Ghali and his varied efforts for a brighter Africa.

Born in the city of Cairo on 14 November 1922, Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s grandfather was once Egypt’s Prime Minster, undoubtedly playing a role in his interest in politics. A scholar, he graduated in 1946 from Cairo University before receiving an International Law PhD and International Relations Diploma at University of Paris. During 1979, he became an international law professor at Cairo University, a role he held until 1999. Throughout his esteemed career, Boutros Boutros-Ghali has been named a Fulbright Research Scholar, a Visiting Professor and an Honorary Rector, all esteemed honours bestowed upon individuals showcasing an outstanding commitment to education. In addition to these he was awarded honourary foreign memberships to Moscow’s Russian Academy of Sciences and Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Whilst his career in education was well-grounded, Boutros Boutros-Ghali began his venture into politics during Anwar El Sadat’s presidency. His role as Egypt’s Minister of State led to his position as Deputy Minister, one he held for months before his move to the United Nations. With this, he played a significant role in peace talks for Israel’s Menachem Begin, Prime Minster and Egypt’s President Sadat. His role as Secretary-General for the United Nations forever cemented his place in political history, inspiring many throughout the world. Though controversy surrounded his time in United Nations office, he carried with him many supporters confident in his abilities to maintain peace throughout the world.

As one of the world’s foremost African political figures, Boutros Boutros-Ghali played a significant role in peace-making throughout his career. Citizens throughout Africa including Tunde Folawiyo and countless others may continue to hold his leadership in high regard. As a new generation of young African leaders emerges, the contributions of those from the past remain ever present in the minds of those hoping to make a difference in the continent’s economic and social advancement.

Tunde Folawiyo | Wole Soyinka - Nigeria's greatest author

Wole Soyinka is an acclaimed writer, best known for his poetry and plays. He was the first person from Africa to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature - an honour bestowed upon him in 1986. Over the course of his career, he has published approximately 20 works, including books of poetry, two novels and several plays.

Like Tunde Folawiyo, Soyinka's homeland is Nigeria. Born in 1934, he grew up in the city of Abeokuta, and completed his preparatory studies for university in Ibadan, at Government College. Following this, he moved to the UK, to study drama at the University of Leeds. Graduating in 1957, he remained in England, working as a director, actor and script reader at London's Royal Court Theatre; during this period of his life, he also composed a number of plays, including The Lion & the Jewel, and The Swamp Dwellers, both of which were successfully staged in Ibadan and London.

After receiving a Rockefeller Research Fellowship in 1960, Soyinka decided to return to Nigeria, to complete his work on Africa theatre at the University College of Ibadan. Here, he produced what would become one of his most famous works, A Dance of the Forest; this was a scathing critique of the political elites in Nigeria. It was very well received, and ended up being selected as the official play used to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day.

For the next seven years, Soyinka worked in a number of universities in Lagos and Ife, and produced several plays, including politically-focused dramas such as Kongi's Harvest and The Road, as well as comedies, the most notable of which was The Trials of Brother Jero. He also wrote for television and radio programmes, arranged guerrilla theatre performances, and created satirical revues.

In 1965, his debut novel The Interpreters was published; this fascinating, complex work is one which most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, have probably heard of. The book centres around six intellectuals from Nigeria, who share and discuss their experiences of Africa.

Over the years, Soyinka continued to compose plays, essays and poems, resulting in him winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in the mid-eighties. He has since written a number of new works, including Outsiders, a book of poetry, and King Baabu, a play about dictatorship in Africa. Eight years ago, he published his memoirs, which he named 'You must set forth at dawn'.