Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Soyinka (born 13 July 1934) is a Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

n writer, poet and playwright. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature

Nobel Prize in Literature

Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...

, where he was recognised as a man "who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence", and became the first African in Africa and in Diaspora to be so honoured. In 1994, he was designated UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication.

One of the most prominent members of the eminent Ransome-Kuti family

Ransome-Kuti Family

The Ransome-Kuti family is a Nigerian family noted for its contributions to Nigerian art, religion, education, medicine and politics.*Olasu**Jamo m. Orukoloku***Likoye Kuti, m. Ekidan Efupeyin...

, his mother Grace Eniola was the daughter of Rev. Canon JJ Ransome-Kuti, sister to Olusegun Azariah Ransome-Kuti and Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, making Soyinka cousin to the late Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti

Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...

, the late Beko Ransome-Kuti

Beko Ransome-Kuti

Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti was a Nigerian medical doctor known for his work as a human rights activist.-Early life:...

, the late Olikoye Ransome-Kuti

Olikoye Ransome-Kuti

Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a paediatrician, activist, was a health minister in his native Nigeria.-Early life:He was born in Ijebu Ode in 1927, in present day Ogun State, Nigeria...

 and to Yemisi Ransome-Kuti

Yemisi Ransome-Kuti

The only child of Azariah Olusegun Ransome-Kuti who was appointed Chief Pharmacist for the Federation of Nigeria in 1956 until retirement from federal Medical Service. In 1951, he was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 1951 by King George VI. She is also the...

.

Soyinka was born into a Yoruba

Yoruba people

The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...

 family in Abeokuta

Abeokuta

Abeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140....

, specifically, a Remo family from Isara-Remo

Isara-Remo

Isara-Remo is an ancient town in present day Remo North Local government in Ogun State in Nigeria. It is the head quarters of the local government area. It has an area of 199 km² and a population of 59,911 at the 2006 census...

 on July 13, 1934.