Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Monday met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and presented him with a translated copy of one of his seminal works, Myth, Literature and the African World. The Portuguese edition is titled mito, literatura e o mundo africano.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, confirmed the meeting in a post on X on Tuesday. He explained that Soyinka’s engagement with Lula occurred while President Tinubu attended to other commitments as part of his ongoing state visit to Brazil.
“Yesterday, while President Tinubu was carrying on with other activities of his state visit to Brazil, President Lula da Silva received Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka,” Ajayi wrote. “The global literary icon presented his translated book titled mito, literatura e o mundo africano (Myth, Literature and the African World) to Lula.”
The visit highlighted both cultural and diplomatic exchanges as Nigeria seeks to deepen ties with Brazil. Tinubu arrived in Brasília, the Brazilian capital, on Monday for a two-day official visit, where both nations signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation in trade, diplomacy, science, aviation, and finance.
During bilateral discussions, Tinubu praised Lula’s commitment to revitalising the partnership between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s biggest country. He described Nigeria’s economy as a “virgin land” full of opportunities for Brazilian companies and investors willing to engage in mutually beneficial ventures.
Tinubu also addressed pressing challenges in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly the lack of adequate facilities for aircraft maintenance and repair. He announced plans to establish a major service centre in Nigeria that would serve as a hub for the West African subregion, ensuring essential repairs and maintenance for the growing fleet of domestic airlines.
“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula,” Tinubu said during a business forum. “We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage. We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today we say that is the end of that.”
Tinubu expressed his determination to reset Nigeria’s relations with Brazil and open a new chapter of economic, political, and cultural collaboration. He noted that this was his third visit to Brazil in recent years — first to attend the G20 Summit, second for climate discussions under the BRICS platform, and now for a formal state visit.
“This visit is very emotional,” the president added, underscoring the historical ties between both nations. Brazil is home to one of the largest populations of African descent outside Africa, a legacy of the transatlantic slave trade that continues to influence Brazilian culture, religion, and art.
Soyinka’s meeting with Lula underscored the role of culture and literature in shaping international diplomacy. By presenting his work in Portuguese, Soyinka reaffirmed the shared heritage between Africa and Brazil while celebrating the enduring global influence of African thought and creativity.
The state visit is expected to mark a new phase in Nigeria-Brazil relations, combining political dialogue with cultural and economic partnerships. With fresh agreements signed and a commitment to tackle longstanding challenges, both countries are setting the stage for closer cooperation in trade, infrastructure development, and knowledge exchange.