Prof. Wole Soyinka has lost the race to be Oxford’s Professor of poetry to English poet, playwright and novelist, Simon Armitage.
Armitage, the popular poet and broadcaster, secured 1,221 votes – 301 more than his closest rival, Wole Soyinka.
Armitage was backed by more names, including John Carey and Melvyn Bragg. Bragg had previously supported Soyinka, but later publicly switched his allegiance to Armitage
Soyinka, the first African writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature and a respected playwright and political activist, was an early favourite for the post after garnering by far the highest number of nominations.
But Lord Bragg threw a spanner in the works last month when he publicly withdrew his support for Soyinka and switched allegiance to Armitage, claiming Soyinka was too old and insufficiently committed to the job.
He said Soyinka, a US-based Nigerian who turns 81 next month, “has not written much poetry recently and I now wonder how often he would bother to come to Oxford. Soyinka is a grand man and would regard it as a grand post. I also query his age.”
FRENCH VERSION
Armitage, le poète populaire et communicateur, a obtenu 1 221voix – 301 plus que son plus proche rival, Wole Soyinka.
Armitage a été soutenu par plusieurs noms, y compris JohnCarey et Melvyn Bragg. Bragg avait auparavant appuyé Soyinka,mais plus tard publiquement passé son allégeance à Armitage
Soyinka, le premier écrivain africain à remporter le prix Nobelpour la littérature et un dramaturge respecté et activistepolitique, a été un début favori pour le poste après avoirremporté de loin le plus grand nombre de candidatures.
Mais Lord Bragg a jeté une clé dans les travaux le mois dernierquand il a publiquement retiré son soutien à Soyinka etcommuté allégeance à Armitage, prétendant Soyinka était tropvieux et pas suffisamment engagés à l’emploi.
Il a déclaré Soyinka, un nigérian basé aux Etats-Unis qui tourne81 le mois prochain, “n’a pas écrit beaucoup de poésierécemment et je me demande combien de fois il aurait pris lapeine de venir à Oxford. Soyinka est un grand homme et ilconsidérerait comme un grand poste. J’ai également interrogerson âge. »
