US Revokes Wole Soyinka’s Visa02-APR-2024.

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that his American visa has been revoked permanently by the United States government.

Soyinka, who disclosed this during a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, said he received the revocation letter from the US Consulate on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Reading the letter aloud at the event themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!” held at the Freedom Park, Lagos, Soyinka suggested that the decision appeared to be linked to his long-standing criticism of the policies of US President, Donald Trump.

The letter from the US Consulate, which he read publicly, partly stated, “Dear Mr Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked in pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States. Additional information became available after the below visa was issued. This revocation refers only to the visa listed below.

Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA
Visa classification(symbol): B1/B2
Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos.”

The playwright, who resides in Nigeria, insisted that he bore no resentment over the matter.

“I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,” he said.

Soyinka stressed that his criticism of world leaders, including Donald Trump, was rooted in his role as a global citizen committed to speaking against racism, injustice, and bad governance.

It will be recalled that in December 2016, shortly after Trump’s electoral victory, Soyinka publicly tore up his US Green Card in protest, declaring his disapproval of the new administration.

Thousands have gathered in central London for a march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

A counter protest by anti-racism campaigners is also taking place.

Drogba, Akide Join FIFA’s Anti-Racism Players’ Voice Panel

FIFA has unveiled a 16-member “Players’ Voice Panel” aimed at combating racism in football, with African legends Didier Drogba and Mercy Akide among those named.

Led by former Ballon d’Or winner and ex-Liberian President George Weah, the panel includes current and former football stars from 14 countries, who will advise on anti-racism strategies, support education programmes, and drive cultural reforms in global football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the panel’s role in delivering real action rather than symbolic gestures, saying:

“Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong — they are crimes. All incidents must be fully punished.”

The initiative follows high-profile incidents of racist abuse in football, including the recent case involving Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo at Liverpool.

The Players’ Voice Panel includes:

George Weah (Liberia)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Mercy Akide (Nigeria)

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)

Formiga (Brazil)

Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)

Jessica Houara (France)

Sun Jihai (China PR)

Blaise Matuidi (France)

Lotta Schelin (Sweden)

Aya Miyama (Japan)

Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina)

Mikael Silvestre (France)

Briana Scurry (USA)

Maia Jackman (New Zealand)

Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal)

FIFA has also toughened its disciplinary code, raising fines for racist abuse to a maximum of 5 million Swiss francs, and adopted a three-step anti-discrimination protocol during matches.

#SayNoToRacism #FootballUnites #FIFAPlayersVoice

Kemi Badenoch laments facing more racist abuse as conservative leader.

Kemi Badenoch has revealed her shock at the level of racist abuse she has faced since her election as the first Black woman to lead the Conservative Party, despite previously calling Britain “the best place in the world to be Black.”

In an interview with the Sunday Times, she described a barrage of personal attacks, both online and from a small number of MPs, labelling the hostility as “Kemi derangement syndrome.”

She noted a rise in ethno-nationalist rhetoric on social media, stating that critics questioned her achievements due to her race and ethnicity.

She said, “There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this, and I’m doing it. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people it’s hysterical. Not even just from MPs. I actually don’t think it’s that many MPs. I think it’s two to three people out of 120. That’s nothing. But online as well. People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’”

On social media, the Tory leader said, “There’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up, lots of stuff about my race and my ethnicity and the tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself.’”

Born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, Badenoch has previously distanced herself from her Nigerian roots.

The Sunday Times quoted her on Saturday, saying, “I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that is a healthy way to run a society. I remember when I stood up a few years ago and said Britain is not a racist country—ethnic minorities do very well here, it is white working-class boys who are actually struggling on a lot of metrics—and I got pilloried for that.

“My view is that there are people out there who will say whatever it is, they will throw whatever kind of mud at you, and they will hope that it sticks.”

Newsbrief: UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Hits Back At Racial Attacks

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch says she has faced “hysterical” and racially charged criticism since emerging as Tory leader. She noted that some detractors claim her rise was due to diversity policies rather than merit.

Badenoch condemned the attacks as rooted in prejudice, stressing that she earned her position through hard work. She also dismissed talk of Robert Jenrick replacing her, calling it “sore loser” politics.

Despite the backlash and her party’s slump in polls, she vowed to keep the Conservatives relevant, warning that rivals like Reform UK only offer disruption.
#KemiBadenoch #UKPolitics #Racism #Conservatives