Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka was informed by the US embassy this week that his visa had been revoked.

No reason was given. Report here

Yeah, what a mystery. In all seriousness, I suspect that they are starting to flag repeat visits from countries where folks do not have the right shade of mayonnaise.

It seems to be part of a larger effort of ehm, "diversity" efforts by the administration.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/trump-refugee-white-people.html

Nobel laureates tend to be smart. The current executive branch of the US government is really scared of smart people. And given its Grand Turnip's affinity for white supremacy, it is deathly afraid of smart black people. The Grand Turnip, early on, set about finding the smart senior officials in the Dept. of Defense who had very swarthy complexions and firing most of them.

I’ve read his Wiki entry and can’t see why he would be politically sensitive. Nobel for literature, has written about apartheid S Africa in the course of a long and varied literary career, but I couldn’t see anything to trigger concern.

Do we know what the intended purpose of his visit was?

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

Do we know what the intended purpose of his visit was?

Lectures and occasional teaching at Harvard and Cornell; speeches on stuff like slavery to the UN; that's his usual sort of itinerary. Nothing any reasonable person could possibly take exception to.

1 hour ago, sethoflagos said:

Lectures and occasional teaching at Harvard and Cornell; speeches on stuff like slavery to the UN; that's his usual sort of itinerary. Nothing any reasonable person could possibly take exception to.

I think expecting reason from an administration that not only a non-existing white holocaust in SA and then trying to make it reality by inviting refugees is a bit of a tall order.

Also, I would not be surprised if they use AI or some other stupid pattern-based method to flag folks from certain "undesired" countries where they assume some risk of overstaying. But one would only really see that if one looks at broader patterns, a Nobel Laureate is of course a special consideration.

If it is targeted, one possibility is that Soyinka was incarcerated in the wake of the civil war. Even before this administration, the US does flag individuals in some cases often without further understanding of the situation. For example, a microbiologist who has ever used a freeze dryer (a very standard piece of equipment) could add a few flags already.

53 minutes ago, CharonY said:

For example, a microbiologist who has ever used a freeze dryer (a very standard piece of equipment) could add a few flags already.

I'm sorry...did you say freeze dryer? Not that I expect anything to make sense anymore but how does that associate with a threat?

D Trump seems to be extremely envious of B Obama receiving a Nobel.
He stooped as low as begging for one and asking ( extorting ) Heads of State to nominate him.

So maybe he's just jealous.

37 minutes ago, TheVat said:

I'm sorry...did you say freeze dryer? Not that I expect anything to make sense anymore but how does that associate with a threat?

The way it is explained to me is that there is a list somewhere associated with security risks. I forgot the details but in the list for biosecurity there were things like knowledge about certain pathogens, use of fermenters, freeze dryers and a couple of random other things. The reasoning is that this knowledge is useful for building bioweapons (and kimchi).

8 minutes ago, CharonY said:

(and kimchi).

Definitely a weapon, in the wrong hands.

Edited October 28Oct 28 by TheVat
Comma

1 hour ago, TheVat said:

Definitely a weapon, in the wrong hands.

Also, right hands.

1 hour ago, MigL said:

D Trump seems to be extremely envious of B Obama receiving a Nobel.
He stooped as low as begging for one and asking ( extorting ) Heads of State to nominate him.

So maybe he's just jealous.

I am fairly sure that it breaks his mind a bit that people of colour can get a Nobel but he doesn't get one.