CARBONDALE - Look at everyone in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale community who had a hand in bringing Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka here, and begins to feel the impact and importance of this renowned man.

A 1986 Nobel Prize winner in literature for his noted work in theater and letters, Soyinka is also known for his political courage advocating a cease-fire in his native Nigeria in the late 1960s during civil unrest.

Soyinka was arrested, charged with treason and held as a political prisoner for nearly two years. After his release, he spent several years exiled from his native country.

"The most important thing about Soyinka is that he is not just a scholar or a poet or a playwright, though he is all of those things," said Segun Ojewuyi, assistant professor in SIUC's Department of Theater who has undertaken an instrumental part in bringing Soyinka here.

"He is a human rights activist," Ojewuyi said. "He has gone beyond the boundaries most of us hold dear."

Soyinka's visit to SIUC is being organized as a two-day symposium with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Student Center Auditorium.

Keynote speakers who have been invited to the symposium that will include panel discussions, documentary films and question and answer periods are Biodun Jeyifo of Harvard, an expert on African drama; Gary Younge of the British newspaper "The Guardian," and author/social justice advocate Randall Robinson.

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is hosting a free lecture given by Soyinka at 5 p.m.Thursday in SIUC Student Center Ballroom D with a reception that follows.

"We look forward to hosting an enlightening, stimulating lecture by this exceptionally, courageous playwright and political activist," said Mike Lawrence, institute director.

An effort to bring the western Nigerian native who earned a doctorate from the University of Leeds and wrote drama composition for the Royal Court Theatre in London, is a collaboration and joint effort of many departments and individuals at SIUC and within Carbondale.

SIUC's Department of Theater, the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, the vice chancellor for research and graduate dean's office all played a part in approving money or providing help on directives as did the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Speech Communication and University Honors Program.

And don't forget the Carbondale community.

Carbondale Community Arts provided $1,000 in grant money to help defray expenses.

"Isn't this exciting? It's a special opportunity. He's an exciting individual with an exciting story to tell," said Nancy Stemper, executive director for Carbondale Community Arts, about Soyinka

SIUC's Theater Department in conjunction with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theater will perform one of Soyinka's more notable plays -"Death and the King's Horsemen," that is a true story about the events and aftermath of a 1946 incident regarding a royal horseman who was prevented by British colonial powers from committing a ritual suicide.

Tickets for the play are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $6 for students and can be purchased from the McLeod Theatre Box Office at SIUC from noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and an hour before each performance that begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076