Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has expressed a preference for wine instead of water, claiming that water takes up unnecessary space. In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka emphasized that wine serves as both inspiration and relaxation, stating, “Water just takes up space and belongs to other commodities. I avoid it as much as possible.”
Soyinka, who celebrated his 90th birthday on July 13, 2024, elaborated on the effects of wine: “A good, robust wine either sends you to sleep right away or inspires you to work.”
During the interview, he also reflected on his writing process, noting he no longer writes on paper except for occasional poetry scraps. Discussing technology’s role in his work, he remarked, “You can’t be up to date with everything… you have machines that talk back to you, and I tell them, ‘Shut up, I’m the one writing!’”
He revealed that his best ideas come in isolation, including when he’s alone on a plane, emphasizing the importance of personal space for his creativity.
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