Biodun Jeyifo, Chidi Odinkalu to speak at Wole Soyinka Centre media lecture series

Biodun Jeyifo, a professor emeritus of English at Cornell University, will deliver the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre Media lecture series.

The lecture, with the theme  ‘The death of truth: Realism, literature and journalism in an age of disinformation’, will be held on July 13 at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos.

According to a statement signed by Motunrayo Alaka, executive director of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), the event is held every July 13 to celebrate the birthday of Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in literature and the centre’s grand patron, who will turn 90 on that day.

”The Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series is an annual programme of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) aimed at examining varying topical issues related to the performance of the media on the health of Nigeria’s democracy and the country,“ the statement reads.

”The theme emerged from a pressing need to examine how different forms of storytelling—be it realistic art, literary fiction, or journalistic reporting—contend with the complexities of truth in today’s world, which is increasingly saturated with disinformation.

”The theme also reflects on the responsibilities of writers, artists and journalists in preserving and promoting truth.“

Alaka said Jeyifo, who is also a professor of comparative literature and African and African American studies at Harvard University, will be joined by Chidi Odinkalu, a lawyer and human rights activist, and Odia Ofeimun, a poet, author, and political scientist.

Other speakers expected at the event include Kadaria Ahmed, chief executive officer of RadioNow 95.3FM; Chiamaka Okafor, co-founder of the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Foundation (MILAD); Ohi Alegbe, a media practitioner; and Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun, head of programmes at News Central TV.

Umaru Pate, professor of media history and vice-chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, will chair the occasion.